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Abstract

Trace metal concentrations in phytoplankton were determined in seven locations (Stations I-VII) of the Kuwait Coast, known for significant industrial and recreational activities. Trace metal concentrations in phytoplankton (20-200 microns size) occurred in the sequence of Zn > Pb > Cu > Ni at Stations I-III and VII, and Zn > Cu > Ni > Pb at Stations IV-VI. Station III showed higher concentrations of all the analyzed metals than at other stations. Toxicity tests to phytoplankton revealed a significant decrease in the rate of oxygen with increasing concentrations of trace metals. Further, such comparisons to station wise observations between the rate of oxygen evolution and trace metal levels revealed the nature of trace metal pollution in each station off the Kuwait coast.

The biological effects of chemical contaminants in the Arabian/Persian Gulf: A review

“…Again, selecting commonly tested metals (Zn, Cu, Cd and Fe), LOEC and LC 50 data were generated for P. waltoni along with tissue specific Bioaccumulation Factors (BAFs). Field collected phytoplankton have also been used to assess differences in response to metal toxicity (Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn), along with the inter-site variability in metal accumulation (Bu-Olayan et al, 2001). Studies have also found site of collection to influence the sensitivity of intertidal invertebrate species, blue crab Portunus pleagicus and the cockle Tapes sulcarius to Hg when subject to short-term laboratory based 96 h toxicity tests (Bu-Olayan and Thomas, 2015).…”