Periphyton as monitors for heavy metal pollution in the Calcasieu River estuary.

The levels of copper, lead, chromium, zinc, cadmium, arsenic and silver were determined in periphyton specimens obtained with a diatometer collector. Stations selected were along three important bayous of the Calcasieu River system. Distributions of some metals in the organisms were similar to those found in sediment from the same locations, while other metals appeared to be similar to water concentrations. Concentration ratios of periphyton over sediment greatly exceeded one for the metals chromium, zinc, cadmium, arsenic and silver. The concentrations of heavy metals in the periphyton appeared to yield more information about pollutants than either water or sediment samples collected at the periphyton stations.