Abstract
The soft tissues of mussels are often used as the main food source, especially in coastal areas. Neutron Activation Analysis was used to measure the content of 24 macro- and microelements in the soft tissues and 18 elements in the shells of selected sets of mussels of the species Mytilus galloprovincialis. The mussels were collected in 8 polluted and 4 pristine zones, which included Namibia, the west and east coasts of South Africa, and Mozambique. According to factor analysis Co, Ni, Zn, As, Se, Br, I, Sb could have anthropogenic origin. The concentrations of elements such as Cr, As, Se and partly Zn at polluted stations were above the maximum permissible levels for seafood. The concentrations of Sc, V, Cr, Mn, Co, Ni, Sb, Cs, Th, U in shells and soft tissues of the same mussels were at the close levels. Elements such as Al, Cr, Co, As (partly Zn, Se, and I) are considered to be harmful to human health at the levels of mussels consumption of 200 g/week per person and lower in such zones as Swakopmund, East London, Port Shepstone, Richards Bay, Xai-Xai according to calculated risk quotients and target hazard indices.
Highlights
The coastline of South Africa, Namibia, and Mozambique are characterized by different levels and types of anthropogenic pressures
The st. 1 stands out of st. 2–4 due to higher concentrations of Zn, Se. It could be explained by a species-specific accumulation of elements by the individuals of the Mytilus edulis at this station
The levels of elements in the samples from the Saldanha outer bay were close to ranges determined in mussels from Cape Town and False Bay, except for Se, which was on the level of samples from Namibia
Summary
The coastline of South Africa, Namibia, and Mozambique are characterized by different levels and types of anthropogenic pressures. The main sources of trace elements in the coastal water are marine discharges from urban and agricultural runoff, wastewater treatment plants, industries, power stations, shipyards, and recreational activities. Mussels, which are a kind of bivalves spread worldwide, take the pressure of inputs of both anthropogenic and natural origin. They accumulate elements from dissolved and suspended materials to quite high levels in comparison with the other marine organisms. Assessment of the levels and power of anthropogenic and natural inputs of the state of sensitive organisms is the crucial task of coastal pollution control and management
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