Bioaccumulation of trace metals in Mediterranean mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) from a fish farm with copper-alloy mesh pens and potential risk assessment

Abstract

Concentrations of trace metals were determined in the muscle tissue, digestive gland and gills of Mediterranean mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) collected from different locations around an offshore copper alloy fish farm. Levels of copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn) and iron (Fe) as mg/kg wet weight in the edible part of the mussels collected from distant zone (upstream Zn7.33 > Fe2.8 > Cu0.13 > Mn0.07 and downstream Zn9.9 > Fe5.67 > Cu0.18 > Mn0.17) were significantly lower (p < 0.05) than those sampled from the cage zone (bottom panel Zn22.25 > Fe13.75 > Cu2.39 > Mn0.85 and cage frame Zn17.1 > Fe8.74 > Cu1.39 > Mn0.26). Trace metal concentrations in mussels were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in the samples from the frame and bottom panel of the copper alloy mesh pen, compared to those from distant areas, namely the farm affected downstream-and non-affected upstream locations. However, the rates of target hazard quotients (THQ) for all tested trace metals from all locations in the present study were smaller than "one" (THQ < 1), indicating that the consumption of mussels grown around a cage farm with copper alloy mesh pens were within safe limits and did not exceed maximum levels suggested by the US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) and European Union (EU) regulations for seafood consumption.

Black Sea Mussels Qualitative and Quantitative Chemical Analysis: Nutritional Benefits and Possible Risks through Consumption

“…Even if HQs were below the critical value 1, so no possible risks are associated with mussel consumption collected from the study areas, we noted the case of lead which registered the highest calculated HQs from all heavy metals: 0.2 in A1, 0.03 in A3, 0.012 in A2, respectively. Our results are in accordance with findings of other studies conducted in order to assess potential human risks associated with mussel consumption in the region of Black Sea [54][55][56]. It should be noted also that calculated hazard quotients for investigated heavy metals within the current research were higher than values found in other investigated food categories in Romania (honey, food supplements) [57,58].…”

Seasonal distribution of cadmium, lead, nickel, and magnesium in several tissues of mussels from the Algerian coasts

“…Many authors had reported the high aptitude of two mussel organs gill and digestive gland in the storage process of heavy metals as Viarengo et al (1990), Sreedevi et al (1992), Amiard et al (1993), Stien et al (1998), Blasco and Puppo (1999), Vlahogianni et al (2007), Peyrot et al (2009), Cooper et al (2010, Giarratano et al (2011), Jebali et al (2014, Belcheva et al (2015), Chandurvelan et al (2015), and Yigit et al (2018).…”

Study of Microplastics and Inorganic Contaminants in Mussels from the Montenegrin Coast, Adriatic Sea

“…are the most commonly used bioindicator species in marine pollution monitoring, with highly developed bioaccumulation ability [1][2][3]. As filter-feeding organisms, mussels accumulate a wide range of contaminants from their environment, including different trace metals, microplastics (MPs), pharmaceuticals, pesticides, and other sorts of emerging contaminants [4][5][6][7][8][9][10]. They are also known for their bioconcentration ability, since they cannot regulate individual concentrations of metals [11] or other pollutants, for instance, MPs [9].…”