Distribution of platinum and other traffic related metals in sediments and clams (Corbicula sp.)

Platinum is part of traffic-emitted metals since the introduction of automotive catalyst converters. Still, automobile emissions are one of the major sources for metals in European river systems. However, field data on Pt is scarce and there is a lack of knowledge concerning the distribution and biological availability of Pt. Therefore, the distribution of traffic related metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Pt, and Zn) was analyzed in sediment samples and in the Asian clam Corbicula sp. Samples were taken from three transects following road runoff inlets. Pt was introduced into the river by road runoff. The highest Pt concentrations in sediments were analyzed in the silt/clay fraction (45 ng/g), while the highest total Pt burden was obtained for the sand fraction, that makes up more than 60% of the sediment. Metal concentrations were related to the area of the drained street section as well as to their distance from the discharge point, and to grain size distribution within the sediment. Pt and other traffic related metals were accumulated by clams. Due to the feeding behavior of the freshwater mussel Corbicula sp. Pt concentrations in the soft tissue remain relatively low (max Pt concentration: 1.3 ng/g freeze dried soft tissue) and acute lethal or toxic effects therefore appear to be unlikely. Nonetheless, chronic exposure effects still have to be examined. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.