This dataset contains results from a field-based exposure study assessing the biological effects of submerged munitions on the marine bivalve Mytilus spp.. Mussels were collected from Sylt Island (North Sea) and exposed at three historic munition wrecks: SMS Mainz (Germany), KW58 Hendericus (Belgium), and UC30 (Denmark). At each site, mussel cages were deployed directly on or near the wreck structures for several weeks.
After recovery, mussels were assessed for mortality and dissected for histochemical and biochemical analyses. Tissues (gills, mantle, and digestive gland) were examined for histological biomarkers including lipofuscin, glycogen, neutral lipids, as well as sex and gonadal maturity. Enzymatic activities of catalase (CAT) and glutathione S-transferase (GST) were measured spectrophotometrically and normalized to protein content.