Assessment of Heavy Metals (Fe, Cu and Ni) Contamination of Seawater and Mussel, Mytilus Galloprovincialis, from Al Hoceima Moroccan Coasts

Abstract

In the present work, both seawater and mussels, Mytilus galloprovincialis (M. galloprovincialis), were collected monthly from the mussel farm located along the coastline of Al Hoceima (Morocco) and their heavy metal concentrations (Fe, Cu, Ni) were determined using inductively coupled plasma -- optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). Trace metals found in mussel tissues are much higher than those found in seawater. The order of metal abundance in mussels is Fe > Cu > Ni. The pattern of temporal variation of mussel trace metal levels was similar among stations with higher values during the months of the winter season and lower during the months of the summer period. Seasonal fluctuations in heavy metal levels found in bivalves appear to be largely controlled by the environmental parameters and biological processes. Results obtained in this study, for Fe, Cu and Ni, indicate that the species under investigation poses no health hazard to consumers. Our study, indicate that bivalve molluscs can be used as sentinel bioindicators in marine environments impacted by heavy metals in this area of the Moroccan coastline.