Volunteer Monitoring for Zebra Mussels
Ecosystem Impacts
•Filter feeders
–Possibly increase exposure to toxic chemicals
The prodigious filtering of water by zebra mussels may also increase human and wildlife exposure to organic pollutants (such as PCBs and PAHs). Early studies have shown that zebra mussels can rapidly accumulate organic pollutants within their tissues to levels more than 300,000 times greater than concentrations in the environment. They also deposit these pollutants in their pseudofeces.

These persistent contaminants can be passed up the food chain so that any fish or waterfowl consuming zebra mussels may also accumulate these organic pollutants. Likewise, human consumption of these same fish and waterfowl could result in further risk of exposure. The implications for human health, however, remain unclear.