![Mussels on a rocky coastline](/sites/default/files/styles/resource_card_image_360x300_/public/2020-03/mussels-on-rocky-coastline.jpg?itok=4PnEYQCV)
Using Mussels to Monitor the Environment
STEM Explained
Mussels are a kind of invertebrate that filter food out of the water they live in. This makes them a great tool for monitoring environmental water quality and tracking bioaccumulation in aquatic food webs.
![heavy metal band](/sites/default/files/styles/resource_card_image_360x300_/public/2019-09/Heavy_metal_band_0.jpg?itok=-Zc4rYXH)
A Taste of Heavy Metal
STEM Explained
Heavy metal is a term for some toxic chemical elements. They can cause problems like bioaccumulation, but are useful in nuclear medicine and medical imaging.