The application of PIXE analysis in the identification of key elements for the ontogenetic development of Zebra mussels in their native areal

In the present study, we used the Particle Induced X-ray Emission (PIXE) technique to analyse the element composition of Zebra mussel shells ( Dreissena polymorpha ) across the different ontogenetic stages. Our investigation also covered water and sediment sample collection from the mussel’s habitat. The use of the PIXE method allowed for accurate quantitative measurement and the detection of trace elements. To gain insight into the changes in metal concentrations in the shells, we calculated the coefficients of variation for each of the chemical elements present in the samples and the correlation between all possible pairs of metal concentrations in the shells. The calculated Metal Pollution Indexes (MPI) demonstrated a strong relationship between the growth of the mussels and the accumulation of chemical elements from the environment. We conducted quantitative analysis of metals in the water and the sediments from the Ticha Dam and established correlations, proving that the elements K, Mn, Fe, Ti and Cr accumulate in the shells of the Zebra mussels.