The Marine Pollution and Biological Effects Group (CMEB) of the Murcia Oceanographic Center of the Spanish Institute of Oceanography, together with researchers from the City University of Hong Kong and the University of Hong Kong, have developed research on the suitability of mussels for marine chemical pollution studies.

These artificial devices emulate living ones in the process of accumulation of heavy metals, which makes them an excellent indicator of the presence of maritime pollution. In addition, industrial mussels eliminate environmental noise, the minimal variations that incorporate external factors that affect the capacity for accumulation and excretion of heavy metals such as temperature, salinity, presence of parasites or availability of food.

These artificial bivalves will allow the elimination of environmental noise, while serving as pollution meters in strategic places where natural mussel populations are not found.