<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>Invasive bivalve molluscs, Mediterranean mussels (<italic>Mytilus galloprovincialis</italic>) were used as sentinel biomonitors of pollution by inorganic contaminants in Saldanha Bay and the Langebaan Lagoon area of South Africa. Two complementary analytical techniques, ICP-MS and NAA, allowed for determination of concentrations of 31 major and trace elements including heavy metals and arsenic in the soft tissues of the mussels. Distinct seasonal patterns were found in the dynamics of these concentrations, with the mussels accumulating much more trace elements in winter than in the summer. In general, the mussels that grew naturally also demonstrated higher concentrations of As, Cd, Fe, Hg and Zn than those that were farmed. Fe showed the highest levels with a maximum concentration of 444 mg/kg followed by Zn with a maximum of 228 mg/kg. The concentrations of Mn and Pb were significantly higher in the Port of Saldanha close to the jetty where ores containing these metals are loaded in comparison with the other sampling sites. It was concluded that bivalve molluscs present themselves as effective biomonitors when assessing marine aquatic pollution by inorganic contaminants in the Saldanha Bay region.</p></abstract>

Invasive bivalve molluscs, Mediterranean mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) were used as sentinel biomonitors of pollution by inorganic contaminants in Saldanha Bay and the Langebaan Lagoon area of South Africa. Two complementary analytical techniques, ICP-MS and NAA, allowed for determination of concentrations of 31 major and trace elements including heavy metals and arsenic in the soft tissues of the mussels. Distinct seasonal patterns were found in the dynamics of these concentrations, with the mussels accumulating much more trace elements in winter than in the summer. In general, the mussels that grew naturally also demonstrated higher concentrations of As, Cd, Fe, Hg and Zn than those that were farmed. Fe showed the highest levels with a maximum concentration of 444 mg/kg followed by Zn with a maximum of 228 mg/kg. The concentrations of Mn and Pb were significantly higher in the Port of Saldanha close to the jetty where ores containing these metals are loaded in comparison with the other sampling sites. It was concluded that bivalve molluscs present themselves as effective biomonitors when assessing marine aquatic pollution by inorganic contaminants in the Saldanha Bay region.

Trace Elements in Mediterranean Mussels <italic>Mytilus galloprovincialis</italic> from the South African West Coast

School for Science and Technology, Faculty of Military Science, Stellenbosch University, South Africa, phone +27 22 702 31 39, fax +27 22 702 30 60

Department of Microbiology, Stellenbosch University, South Africa, phone +27 21 808 58 56, fax +27 21 808 58 46

Sector of Neutron Activation Analysis and Applied Research, Division of Nuclear Physics, Frank Laboratory of Neutron Physics, Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, str. Joliot Curie, 6, 141980, Dubna, Moscow Region, Russian Federation, phone +74 96 216 56 09; fax +74 96 216 50 85

I.D. Papanin Institute of the Biology of Inland Waters, Russian Academy of Sciences, 152742, Borok, Yaroslavl’ Region, Russian Federation, phone/fax +7(48547)24042

Ecological Chemistry and Engineering S

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Trace Elements in Mediterranean Mussels  from the South African West Coast

Invasive bivalve molluscs, Mediterranean mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) were used as sentinel biomonitors of pollution by inorganic contaminants in...

Trace Elements in Mediterranean Mussels Mytilus galloprovincialis from the South African West Coast

Publicado en línea: 22 ene 2016

Páginas: 489 - 498

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/eces-2015-0028

Palabras clave
biomonitoring, Inductivity Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry, heavy metals, trace elements, Neutron Activation Analyses, bivalve molluscs, Saldanha Bay area

© 2015 Jacques Bezuidenhout et al., published by De Gruyter Open

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Trace Elements in Mediterranean Mussels Mytilus galloprovincialis from the South African West Coast

Publicado en línea: 22 ene 2016

Páginas: 489 - 498

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/eces-2015-0028

Palabras clavebiomonitoring, Inductivity Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry, heavy metals, trace elements, Neutron Activation Analyses, bivalve molluscs, Saldanha Bay area

© 2015 Jacques Bezuidenhout et al., published by De Gruyter Open

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Palabras clave
biomonitoring, Inductivity Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry, heavy metals, trace elements, Neutron Activation Analyses, bivalve molluscs, Saldanha Bay area