Marine molluscs in environmental monitoring

Abstract

Concentrations of trace elements and organic pollutants were determined in marine sediments and molluscs from the Mediterranean and Red Sea coasts of Israel. Two bivalve species (Donax trunculus, Pteria aegyptia), two gastropod species (Patella caerulea, Cellana rota) and sediments were sampled at polluted and relatively clean, reference, sites. Along the Mediterranean coast of Israel, sediments and molluscs from Haifa Bay stations were enriched with both organic and trace element contaminants. In the Red Sea, differences between the polluted and reference sites were less pronounced. Bio-concentration factors indicate a significant concentration of Zn, As, Cd, Sn and Pb in animal tissue relative to the concentrations of these elements in the sediments. In contrast, Ce, La and U were not concentrated in molluscs. The trace element results indicate a saturation of the detoxification mechanisms in molluscs from polluted sites. The concentrations of organic pollutants at the same sites are at the lower range of values recorded in other studies. However, synergistic effects between these compounds and between them and metals can lead to acute toxicity.

Heavy metals in Patella caerulea (Mollusca, Gastropoda) in polluted and non-polluted areas from the Iskenderun Gulf (Mediterranean Turkey)

“…Among these industries are ironsteel plant, oil refineries, organic, and inorganic chemicals. Highly elevated levels of Zn, Fe, Cu, Ni, Pb, Cd, and Co in station 1 also observed in P. caerulea from Mediterranean coastal waters near heavily industrialized areas (Conti and Cecchetti 2003;Feldstein et al 2003;Türkmen et al 2005).…”

“…High concentrations of heavy metals were also observed in P. caerulea from the Ionian Sea (Storelli and Marcotrigiano 2001), Mediterranean Sea and Red Sea Feldstein et al 2003), and Tyrrhenian coastal areas (Conti and Cecchetti 2003).…”

Assessment of light intensity and salinity regimes on the element levels of brown macroalgae, Treptacantha barbata: Application of response surface methodology (RSM)

“…Although tin known as an essential trace element for some animals, the necessity for the human is still unclear (Tomza-Marciniak et al, 2019). Tin in the marine environment is usually found in the form of organic tributyl-tin (TBT) complex (Feldstein et al, 2003), which is mostly used for in paints for ships due to their antifouling feature (Takahashi et al, 2000). Considering the sampling area in the Çanakkale Strait, which is amongst the most important trade routes (Başar, 2010), it can be said that this activity may cause the tin content of the marine alga.…”

Rare Earth Elements in Shells of Black Sea Molluscs: Anomalies and Biogeochemical Implications

“…The highest scandium (Sc) content in shells of the clam A. kagoshimensis may be due to the high specific area of the ribbed shells of this mollusc, given the fact that scandium among all REE forms the most stable complexes with carbonates [115]. It is worthwhile noting that the rapa whelk R. venosa, although being a benthic animal, either does not capture these elements from sediments [116] or does not deposit them in its shell, as it turns out to be poorer in REE than the bivalve shells.…”