WATER MONITORING SYSTEM USING BIVALVE MOLLUSKS

摘要

A toxicant detection system comprises at least one waterlight chambercontaining a mollusk. Water to be screened is introduced into the chamber. Themollusk is preferably supported on a mounting structure which facilitatesquick mounting of the mollusk in the device, comprising a releasable elementaffixed to the shell of the mollusk, e.g., a bolt which is screwed into a nutaffixed to the mollusk's shell. A sensing apparatus is provided which includesa movable member supported in the chamber so that it engages the shell of themollusk, and moves when the shell opens and closes. The sensing apparatusdetects the position of the mollusk shell based on the position of the movablemember. The sensing apparatus preferably includes a Hall effect transducerwhich co-acts with a magnet carried on the movable member. The system allowsfor accurate readings of the small movements of the mollusk shell which aid indetecting toxicants, and also provides for installation of mollusks of varyingsizes, without the need to move components of the standard configuration ofthe chamber. Methods and systems for detecting or identifying a toxicant inwater being screened are also described.