Marine Invertebrates as Bioindicators of Heavy Metal Pollution

Abstract

Atmosphere, earth and water compose the environment. The presence of heavy metals in the environment has grown because of their large employment in some industrial and agricultural activities. Although these metals are terrestrial products, they flow into the sea through effluents and sewage or are directly discharged from industries placed on the seawater front. It should be considered that metals concentrations vary widely according to different seawater latitudes and depths and can be strongly influenced by fresh water discharges from heavily polluted rivers. In this review recent studies on heavy metal pollution in marine ecosystems and their organisms will be presented. Metal speciation, bioaccumulation in biota, as well as abiotic and biotic factors affecting their bioavailability will be reviewed. Moreover, the use of bioindicator organisms for the biomonitoring of heavy metal toxicity and their ecological effects will be defined. Many marine invertebrate species fulfill the following criteria: Sensitivity to a wide range of chemicals (especially to heavy metals), cost-effectiveness for repeatable tests, readily interpretable biological consequences of pollution. Among the most important marine invertebrates used as bioindicators, the sea urchin embryo is one of the most suitable, especially to assess metal/heavy metal pollution.

Inventory of mollusks from the estuary of the Paraíba River in northeastern Brazil

“…Furthermore, a number of chemical compounds and materials used in shipyard activities may have a significant impact on marine benthic fauna. Indeed, benthic invertebrates are efficient organisms for the evaluation and monitoring of such anthropogenic disturbances in coastal ecosystems (Chiarelli & Roccheri 2014). Thus, surveys of benthic invertebrate assemblages in marine habitats, such as the estuarine region studied herein, are of fundamental importance to biomonitoring and the development of conservation strategies.…”

Heavy metal bioaccumulation in commercial Lethrinidae fish species in Mauritius

“…Erosion, volcanism and magmatic activity is said to cause atmospheric metal pollution responsible for dissolved metals such as arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), Iron (Fe), Nickel (Ni) and Zinc (Zn) to be present in the oceans (Chiarelli and Roccheri, 2014). Rise in the level of heavy metals in the marine environment has caused severe problem to the marine organism and humans (Bashir et al ., 2013).…”

Bioaccumulation of zinc in Rana tigrina in different aquatic habitats

“…Heavy metals are natural constituents of freshwater and marine system and are found in very trace amounts. Human activities are responsible for the increment of their amount in the environment and consequently metals pollution is increasing in water resources (Chiarelli et al, 2016). Essential and beneficial metals have cut off values; low and high concentration beyond the cut off values will also be dangerous for life.…”