Bioaccumulation Of Trace Elements Research Articles

Bioaccumulation and health risk assessment of trace elements in Tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus) from selected inland water bodies.

The presence of toxic trace elements (TEs) has resulted in a worldwide deterioration in freshwater ecosystem quality. This study aimed to analyze the distribution of TEs, including chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni), arsenic (As), mercury (Hg), cadmium (Cd), and lead (Pb), in water, sediment, and organs of Tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus) collected from selected inland water bodies in Tamil Nadu, India. The water samples exhibited a range of concentrations for TEs: Cr varied from 0.014 to 5.193µg/L, Ni ranged from 0.283 to 11.133µg/L, As ranged from 0.503 to 1.519µg/L, Cd from 0.001 to 0.616µg/L, and Pb ranged from non-detectable (ND) to 6.103µg/L. The concentrations of TEs in sediment were found to vary within the following ranges: 5.259 to 32.621mg/kg for Cr, 1.932 to 30.487mg/kg for Ni, 0.129 to 0.563mg/kg for As, 0.003 to 0.011mg/kg for Cd, ND to 0.003mg/kg for Hg, and 0.404 to 1.575mg/kg for Pb. The study found that the accumulation pattern of TE in fishes across all selected areas was liver > bone > gill > muscle. The organs had TE concentrations of Cr (ND-0.769mg/kg), Ni (ND-1.053mg/kg), As (0.002-0.080mg/kg), Pb (ND-0.411mg/kg), and Hg (ND-0.067mg/kg), which was below the maximum residual limit prescribed by EC and FSSAI. The bioconcentration factor (BCF) of TEs exhibited a greater magnitude in comparison with the biota-sediment accumulation factor due to the higher concentration of TEs in fish and lower level in water. The assessment of both carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks suggests that the consumption of Tilapia from the study region does not pose any significant risks.

Distribution, bioaccumulation, trophic transfer and risk assessment of trace elements in fish from a typical shallow outflow lake basin, China

Distribution, bioaccumulation, trophic transfer and risk assessment of trace elements in fish from a typical shallow outflow lake basin, China

Distribution and bioaccumulation of trace elements in two Cyprinidae fish species in the Indus river, Pakistan, including the impact of hydraulic structure on macroinvertebrates' biodiversity

The concentration of trace elements (chromium, lead, zinc, copper, manganese, and iron) was determined in water, sediment and tissues of two Cyprinidae fish species - Labeo rohita and Tor putitora – collected from the eight sampling stations of Indus River in 2022 for four successive seasons (autumn, winter, spring, summer), and also study the present condition of macroinvertebrates after the construction of hydraulic structure. The obtained results of trace element concentrations in the Indus River were higher than the acceptable drinking water standards by WHO. The nitrate concentration ranges from 5.2 to 59.6 mg l−1, turbidity ranges from 3.00 to 63.9 NTU, total suspended solids and ammonium ions are below the detection limit (<0.05). In the liver, highest dry wt trace elements (μg/g) such as Cr (4.32), Pb (7.07), Zn (58.26), Cu (8.38), Mn (50.27), and Fe (83.9) for the Labeo rohita; and Tor Putitora has significantly greater accumulated concentration (Cr, Pb, Zn, Cu, Mn, Fe) in muscle and liver than did Labeo rohita species. Additionally, lower number of macroinvertebrates were recorded during the monsoonal season than pre-monsoon and post-monsoon. Local communities surrounded by polluted environments are more probably to consume more fish and expose them to higher concentrations of toxic trace elements (lead and copper). The findings also provide a basis for broader ecological management of the Indus River, which significantly influenced human beings and socioeconomic disasters, particularly in the local community.

Trace element bioaccumulation, tissue distribution, and elimination in odontocetes stranded in Florida and Georgia, USA over a 15-year period (2007–2021)

Odontocetes obtain nutrients including essential elements through their diet and are exposed to heavy metal contaminants via ingestion of contaminated prey. We evaluated the prevalence, concentration, and tissue distribution of essential and non-essential trace elements, including heavy metal toxicants, in tissue (blubber, kidney, liver, skeletal muscle, skin) and fecal samples collected from 90 odontocetes, representing nine species, that stranded in Georgia and Florida, USA during 2007–2021. Samples were analyzed for concentrations of seven essential (cobalt, copper, iron, manganese, molybdenum, selenium, zinc) and five non-essential (arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury, thallium) elemental analytes using inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Risso's dolphins (Grampus griseus) and short-finned pilot whales (Globicephala macrorhynchus) had the highest median concentrations of mercury, cadmium, and lead, while dwarf sperm whales (Kogia sima) had the lowest. Adult pygmy and dwarf sperm whales that stranded in 2019–2021 had higher concentrations of arsenic, copper, iron, lead, manganese, selenium, thallium, and zinc compared to those that stranded in 2010–2018, suggesting an increasing risk of exposure over time. The highest concentrations of many elements (e.g., cadmium, cobalt, copper, manganese, molybdenum, thallium, zinc) were in fecal samples, illustrating the usefulness of this noninvasively collected sample. Aside from fecal samples, hepatic tissues had the highest concentrations of iron, manganese, mercury, molybdenum, and selenium in most species; renal tissues had the highest concentrations of cadmium; skin had the highest concentrations of zinc; and copper, arsenic, and lead concentrations were primarily distributed among the liver and kidneys. Phylogenetic differences in patterns of trace element concentrations likely reflect species-specific differences in diet, trophic level, and feeding strategies, while heterogeneous distributions of elemental analytes among different organ types reflect differences in elemental biotransformation, elimination, and storage. This study illustrates the importance of monitoring toxic contaminants in stranded odontocetes, which serve as important sentinels of environmental contamination, and whose health may be linked to human health.

Blood and hoof biodistibution of some trace element (Lithium, Copper, Zinc, Strontium and, Lead) in horse from two different areas of Sicily

Background and purposeBiological monitoring of trace element horses is a well-known tool for investigating potential bioaccumulation in urbanized and industrialized geographical areas. Some biomaterials such as hoof are considered as an important indicator of environmental pollution. Hooves can store trace elements for a long time compared to blood and this represents a scientific key to long-term monitoring of exposure to environmental pollutants. In the present study, samples of equine hoof and blood were taken from an experimental group of horses living in an industrialized area of Sicily (Italy) and from a control group of horses housed in a non-industrialized area of Sicily to evaluate the bioaccumulation of different trace elements in different substrates. MethodsHoof and blood mineral concentration of Li- Lithium, Cu- Copper, Zn- Zinc, Sr- Strontium and, Pb- Lead was processed by means of Thermo Scientific iCAP-Q ICP–MS spectrometer. Student T-test was applied to evaluate the differences between groups and substrates. Correlation analysis between substrates and hematological parameters was performed. ResultsStatistical analysis showed a significant statistical difference for Li (p < 0.0001) and Pb (p < 0.0001) between blood and hoof in both groups. A statistically significant difference was observed for Li (p < 0.0001), Cu(p < 0.01), Zn (p < 0.0001) and Pb (p < 0.0001) between substrates in the experimental group. The statistical analysis showed a significant difference of blood Zn (p < 0.01) and hoof Pb (p < 0.01) concentration between groups. Our results revealed a statistically higher concentration of minerals in the blood substrate than in the hoof in both groups. Li (p < 0.0001) and Zn (p < 0.001) were positively correlated between control and experimental group in blood substrate. No correlations were found (P > .05) in hoof between groups for other elements. A positive correlation with WBC was observed in Cu concentration for hoof substrate (p < 0.02) in control group and for Zn in experimental group (p < 0.02). A positive correlation with HGB and HCT was observed for Cu hoof concentration (p < 0.02) in experimental group and PLT resulted positively correlated (p < 0.02) with Pb blood substrate in control group. ConclusionsHorses were not overexposed to these elements in the analyzed groups. The study highlights the role of a new bioaccumulation substrate such as the horse hoof identified as an analytical matrix for the monitoring of heavy metal concentrations in domestic animals.

Impact of Foliar Conditioner on Translocation and Bioaccumulation of Trace Elements in Paulownia (Paulownia Siebold &amp; Zuccarini, 1835)

The main objective of this engineering study was to investigate the impact of foliar conditioners on the translocation and bioaccumulation of trace elements in Paulownia trees. Paulownia, commonly known as the "empress tree," serves as a promising research subject within the environmental engineering context. The study focused on analyzing the effects of foliar conditioners on trace elements in this species, taking into account ecological and economic aspects. The obtained results aim to contribute to the development of effective strategies supporting the healthy growth of plants, addressing environmental protection concerns, and offering practical applications in Paulownia plantation management

Trace element bioaccumulation in the hepatic tissue of juvenile green turtles (Chelonia mydas) stranded along the Campos and Espírito Santo basins, southeastern Brazil

This study analyzed the concentrations of 15 (Al, As, Ba, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Se, V, Zn) toxicologically important trace elements in the livers of 110 green turtles stranded in two areas of the Brazilian coast. These areas are essential for the refuge, feeding, and reproduction of the species, and the information obtained is intended to support the development of conservation strategies. Higher concentrations were observed in the Região dos Lagos, RJ in almost all elements, except for Al, Mo, Pb, and V. This location showed statistically higher differences in the concentrations of Cd (4.66 ± 2.33 μg.g−1), Fe (846.62 ± 583.06 μg.g−1), and Zn (27.17 ± 10.90 μg.g−1). The differences in trace element concentration patterns between the two study areas are likely influenced by multiple factors, including the bioavailability of trace elements, oceanic upwelling events, anthropogenic activities, habitat characteristics, and organism-specific metabolic processes.

Bioaccumulation of Non-Essential Trace Elements Detected in Women's Follicular Fluid, Urine, and Plasma Is Associated with Poor Reproductive Outcomes following Single Euploid Embryo Transfer: A Pilot Study.

This study aims to determine the association of non-essential trace elements present in follicular fluid, plasma, and urine with reproductive outcomes of women undergoing intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidies (PGT-A) and single frozen euploid embryo transfer (SET/FET). This single-center, prospective cohort study included sixty women undergoing ICSI with PGT-A and SET/FET between 2018 and 2019. Urine, plasma and follicular fluid samples were collected on the vaginal oocyte retrieval day to simultaneously quantify ten non-essential trace elements (i.e., Ba, Sr, Rb, Sn, Ti, Pb, Cd, Hg, Sb, and As). We found several associations between the levels of these non-essential trace elements and clinical IVF parameters. Specifically, the increased levels of barium in follicular fluid were negatively associated with ovarian function, pre-implantation development and embryo euploidy, while elevated strontium concentrations in this biofluid were negatively associated with impaired blastulation and embryo euploidy. Elevated plasma strontium levels were negatively associated with ovarian function, fertilization and blastulation. Enhanced presence of other trace elements in plasma (i.e., rubidium and arsenic) were associated with a diminished ovarian function and limited the number of recovered oocytes, mature oocytes and zygotes, respectively. Fully adjusted models suggested significantly lower odds of achieving a live birth when increased concentrations of barium and tin were found in urine.

A first study on the bioaccumulation of trace metals in Rhyssoplax olivacea (Mediterranean Polyplacophora)

This study investigates, for the first time, the bioaccumulation of trace metals in the chiton Rhyssoplax olivacea. Fe, Cu, Co, Cr and Cd were measured in the shell and soft tissue of R. olivacea sampled in five sites along the Algerian west coast during the cold and hot seasons. Physiological and contamination indices were calculated. The condition index provides information on habitat quality and on R. olivacea reproductive performance and physiological status. The metal/shell-weight index informs on the bioavailability of trace metals. The trace element pollution index is used to assign a global contamination status to the studied sites. The trace element spatial variation index ranks Cd and Cr as trace metals of primary environmental concern based on the overall variability of their levels. An exhaustive review compiling data on trace element bioaccumulation in chitons is performed. The potential use of R. olivacea as bioindicator species is discussed.

Bioaccumulation of trace elements and hydrocarbons in chondrichthyans of the western Arabian Gulf: Environmental and human health risk assessment and implications for conservation

This is a first attempt to assess the levels of trace elements, PAHs, and TPHs in six elasmobranch species (Carcharhinus dussumieri, C. sorrah, Chiloscyllium arabicum, Gymnura poecilura, Sphyrna lewini, S. mokarran) from the Arabian Gulf. The chemical analysis showed that the concentrations of contaminants differed significantly between liver and muscle samples with both pelagic and benthic species and all families. For all species, contaminant concentrations were significantly higher in the liver than in the muscle. While muscle contaminant concentrations differed significantly with respect to species' lifestyles and families, those of liver showed no significant differences between pelagic and benthic species, neither between the four families nor between the six species. None of the analysed contaminants exceeded the internationally recognized standards in all studied species. These results enrich the knowledge on the bioaccumulation of contaminants in elasmobranchs and allow to assess the environmental status of the Arabian Gulf.

Trace elements exposure through the dietary intake of fruits and vegetables collected from a divisional city of Bangladesh: Human health implications

BackgroundDietary exposure is the main source of bioaccumulation of trace elements through contaminated fruits and vegetables, which are rich sources of vitamins and minerals, but also toxic elements, which harm our health and well-being. ObjectivesThis study focused on human health nutrition and risks associated with the cancer-causing and non-cancerous trace elements in commonly available winter fruits and vegetables collected from Mymensingh divisional city markets. MethodsSix locally available fruits (viz. pineapple, guava, hog plum, water chestnut, banana, Indian olive) and six seasonal vegetables (viz. red amaranth, radish leaves, brinjal, bottle gourd, radish, and carrot) were collected. The atomic absorption spectrophotometer was used to determine the contents of Zn, Fe, Mn, Cu, Pb, Cr, and Cd. Target Hazard Quotient (THQ), Hazard Index (HI), and Cumulative Incremental Lifetime Cancer Risk (∑ILCR) were calculated to estimate non-cancer and cancer health risks. ResultsAll trace element contents were higher in vegetables than in fruits except Cu. Chromium contents were below the detectable limit for all fruits and vegetables. The highest amounts of Zn (10.54 µg g−1 fresh wt.), Fe (68.75 µg g−1 fresh wt.) and Mn (55.65 µg g−1 fresh wt.) were found in radish leaves. On the other hand, the maximum amounts of Pb (0.388 µg g−1 fresh wt.) and Cd (0.180 µg g−1 fresh wt.) were found in red amaranth, while the highest content of Cu (5.67 µg g−1 fresh wt.) was determined from banana. The calculated HI was <1 in every case except red amaranth suggesting none of the fruit and other vegetable samples poses individual non-cancerous risk after consumption. On the other hand, the measured ILCR values for Cd for both males and females ranged from 1.51E-04 to 6.45E-03 and 2.12E-04 to 9.03E-03, respectively, indicating cancer risk in all fruit and vegetable samples, either individually or cumulatively. ConclusionThe locally available fruits and vegetables of the Mymensingh divisional city area posed significant human health risks. However, regular monitoring of toxic metal contents is necessary to ensure the food safety of locally grown indigenous fruits and vegetables for the city dwellers.

Bioaccumulation of Trace Elements in the Muscle of the Blackmouth Catshark Galeus melastomus from Mediterranean Waters.

Environmental pollution, particularly in the marine environment, has become a significant concern due to the increasing presence of pollutants and their adverse effects on ecosystems and human health. This study focuses on the bioaccumulation of trace elements in the muscle tissue of the blackmouth catshark (Galeus melastomus) from different areas in the Mediterranean Sea. Trace elements are of interest due to their persistence, toxicity, and potential for bioaccumulation. This research aims to assess the distribution and accumulation of trace elements in the muscle tissue of G. melastomus and investigate their potential impact on the deep-sea environment of the Mediterranean. The focused areas include the Ligurian Sea, the northern and central Tyrrhenian Sea, the southern Tyrrhenian Sea, the Ionian Sea, the Pantelleria Waters, and the Gela Waters. Samples were collected following established protocols, and trace element analysis was conducted using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The study provides data on the concentrations of 17 trace elements, namely aluminum, arsenic, cadmium, cobalt, copper, manganese, molybdenum, nickel, zinc, selenium, strontium, lead, chromium, iron, barium, bismuth, and uranium. The findings contribute to a better understanding of trace element bioaccumulation patterns in elasmobranch species, specifically G. melastomus, and highlight the potential risks associated with chemical contamination in the Mediterranean Sea. This research emphasizes the importance of studying the impacts of pollutants on marine organisms, particularly those occupying key ecological roles, like sharks, to support effective conservation and management strategies.

Bioaccumulation of rare earth elements and trace elements in different tissues of the golden grey mullet (Chelon auratus) in the southern Caspian Sea

Rare earth elements are essential for modern life, although they are also classified as emerging pollutants. Currently, fish studies on these elements are very limited in general, but, with regard to the Caspian Sea, there is no reference to them at all. For this reason, our objective was to determine the concentrations of these elements in the golden grey mullet (Chelon auratus) and to contrast its bioaccumulation patterns with those of arsenic, cadmium, mercury and lead. For that purpose, 20 fish were caught in the southern part of the Caspian Sea. Heavy rare earth element concentrations were higher than light ones and the terbium levels were very high, probably due to anthropogenic contamination. The intestine tissue gave the highest concentrations, which could be indicative of a very low gastrointestinal absorption. For both rare earth and trace elements, muscle was the tissue that accumulated the least, despite which, cadmium and lead levels in muscle were of concern.

Trace elements in sediments and plankton from two high-altitude lakes in a volcanic area from North Patagonia, Argentina.

This study analyzes the distribution of nine potentially toxic trace elements (arsenic, antimony, bromine, cobalt, chromium, mercury, rubidium, selenium, and zinc) in sediments and plankton from two small mesotrophic lakes in a non-industrialized area impacted by the Caviahue-Copahue volcanic complex (CCVC). The two lakes have different plankton community structures and received different amounts of pyroclastic material after the last CCVC eruption. Trace element concentrations of surface sediments differed between lakes, according to the composition of the volcanic ashes deposited in the lakes. The size of organisms was the principal factor influencing the accumulation of most trace elements in plankton within each lake, being trace element concentrations generally higher in the microplankton than in the mesozooplankton. The planktonic biomass in the shallower lake was dominated by small algae and copepods, while mixotrophic ciliates and different-sized cladocerans dominated the deeper lake. These differences in the community structure and species composition influenced the trace element bioaccumulation, especially in microplankton, while habitat use and feeding strategies seem more relevant in mesozooplankton bioaccumulation. This work contributes to the scarce records of trace elements and their dynamics in plankton from freshwater ecosystems impacted by volcanic activity.

Bioaccumulation of Trace Elements along the Body Longitudinal Axis in Honey Bees

We present a survey on the environmental contamination of the Alviano Lake territory (Central Italy) based on Apis mellifera ligustica samples collected in two annual samplings (2019–2020). Concentrations of 30 elements were determined in the whole bees, in the gaster, and in the body without the gaster. The study generally revealed a low level of contamination of the bee tissues. However, As showed higher concentrations than in other rural areas, although lower than in samples from urban and productive areas. On the other hand, despite the environmental context, Hg showed limited contamination levels, with the exception of a single sample. Elemental analysis along the longitudinal axis of the bees’ bodies showed greater and statistically significant presences of V, Al, Be, Pb, Cd, Co, Mn, Ba, and Sr in the gaster. The only exceptions concerned As and S (and to a lesser extent Hg), with higher concentrations found in the body without the gaster. We hypothesise that this selectivity maybe due to the affinity of these elements with S, which is abundant in the proteins of the flight muscles in the insect thorax, which are rich in amino acids containing the –SH group.

Toxic and Potentially Toxic Mineral Elements of Edible Gastropods Land Snails (Mediterranean Escargot).

The meat of snails can be considered a high-quality food for the human diet and demand is already increasing across Europe. Due to the bioaccumulation of trace elements in their tissues, land snails can be a significant tool also for environmental pollution evaluation. In this study, 28 mineral elements (Ag, Al, As, B, Ba, Be, Bi, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, K, Li, Na, Mg, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sb, Se, Sr, Ti, Tl, V, Zn) in both the edible part and the shell of edible land snails commercially available in Southern Italy belonging to Cernuella virgata, Helix aperta, Theba pisana species were investigated by ICP-MS and direct mercury analyser. The concentration of trace elements was variable among the samples. The variability demonstrates the close connection among the type of snail, the geographical origin, and the habitat in which the species grows. The edible part of the snails analysed in this study was found to be a good source of macro-nutrients. Toxic elements were detected in some samples, especially in shells; nevertheless, the values fell within the safety limits. Further investigations and monitoring of mineral contents in edible land snails are suggested both for human health and environmental pollution evaluation.

The prokaryotic community of Chondrosia reniformis Nardo, 1847: from diversity to mercury detection

Microbial communities inhabiting sponges are known to take part in many metabolic pathways, including nutrient cycles, and possibly also in the bioaccumulation of trace elements (TEs). Here, we used high-throughput, Illumina sequencing of 16S rRNA genes to characterize the prokaryotic communities present in the cortex and choanosome, respectively the external and internal body region of Chondrosia reniformis, and in the surrounding seawater. Furthermore, we estimated the total mercury content (THg) in these body regions of the sponge and in the corresponding microbial cell pellets. Fifteen prokaryotic phyla were detected in association with C. reniformis, 13 belonging to the domain Bacteria and two to the Archaea. No significant differences between the prokaryotic community composition of the two regions were found. Three lineages of ammonium-oxidizing organisms (Cenarchaeum symbiosum, Nitrosopumilus maritimus, and Nitrosococcus sp.) co-dominated the prokaryotic community, suggesting ammonium oxidation/nitrification as a key metabolic pathway within the microbiome of C. reniformis. In the sponge fractions, higher THg levels were found in the choanosome compared to the cortex. In contrast, comparable THg levels found in the microbial pellets obtained from both regions were significantly lower than those observed in the corresponding sponge fractions. Our work provides new insights into the prokaryotic communities and TEs distribution in different body parts of a model organism relevant for marine conservation and biotechnology. In this sense, this study paves the way for scientists to deepen the possible application of sponges not only as bioindicators, but also as bioremediation tools of metal polluted environments.

Bioaccumulation of trace elements in vegetables grown in various anthropogenic conditions

Hazardous compounds accumulate in plants and animals as a result of anthropogenic impact. Trace elements, such as heavy metals, move up in the system of snow – soil – water – plant – animal. When contaminants accumulate in plants that serve as animal feed, they eventually accumulate in the animals that consume the feed because heavy metals usually enter living organisms via digestive tract, i.e., with food.&#x0D; In 2003–2021, we studied fodder plants grown and harvested by urban zoological organizations, e.g., zoos, nature corners, etc. This research covered the Central Federal District represented by the cities of Moscow, Ivanovo, Yaroslavl, and Uglich. The empirical part of the study relied on a combination of modern ecological, biochemical, and statistical methods. A KVANT-2AT atomic absorption spectrometer was used to define the trace elements and their quantities.&#x0D; Broccoli proved to be the most resistant feed vegetable to all the toxic elements in this study. Kohlrabi, sweet potato, and dill had low content of lead and cadmium, while garlic was highly resistant to cadmium and arsenic. Spinach, fennel, potatoes, beets, and bell peppers, which were used as fodder in metropolis conditions, exceeded the maximal permissible concentration of heavy metals. The samples obtained from the Moscow Zoo contained by 1.98 times more zinc, by 1.06 times more copper, and by 89.47 times more lead than average. The samples from Ivanovo accumulated the greatest extent of iron, which exceeded the average level by 3.26 times. The vegetables from Uglich and Ivanovo had the lowest concentration of zinc, which was by 67.86 and 62.70% below the average, respectively. The samples from Yaroslavl contained by 33.08% less copper. In 2003–2021, feed vegetables grown in the Central Federal District had an average increase in zinc, copper, and lead by 1.13, 1.45, and 2.80 times, respectively. The level of iron stayed almost the same throughout 2018–2021, while that of arsenic gradually decreased in concentration. The accumulation level of zinc, copper, iron, and arsenic in feed vegetables appeared to depend on the concentration of their water-soluble metal forms in the soil.&#x0D; Therefore, forage agriculture in urban areas requires constant chemical and toxicological tests to prevent contaminated feed from entering animal diet.

Assessment of trace element contamination and effects on Paracentrotus lividus using several approaches: Pollution indices, accumulation factors and biochemical tools

Among the most common contaminants in marine ecosystems, trace elements are recognized as serious pollutants. In Corsica (NW Mediterranean Sea), near the old asbestos mine at Canari, trace elements from the leaching of mine residues have been discharged into the sea for several decades. The aim of this study was to assess the levels of contamination in this area and the potential effects on Paracentrotus lividus (Lamarck, 1816) using pollution indices, accumulation factors and biochemical tools. For this purpose, the concentration of 24 trace elements was measured in sea urchins (gonads and gut content), macroalgae, seawater column and sediment collected at 12 stations nearby the old asbestos mine and at a reference site. The bioaccumulation of trace elements occurs as follows: macroalgae > gut > gonads. TEPI contribute to highlight contamination gradients which are mainly due to the dominant marine currents allowing the migration of mining waste along the coastline. This hypothesis was supported by TESVI, which identified characteristic trace elements in the southern area of the mine. High hydrogen peroxide content, associated with elevated catalase and glutathione-S-transferase enzyme activities, were also identified at these sites and at the reference site. Trace elements contamination as well as several abiotic factors could explain these results (e.g. microbiological contamination, hydrodynamic events, etc.). The results obtained in this study suggest that oxidative stress induced by contamination does not affect the health of Paracentrotus lividus. This work has provided a useful dataset allowing better use of sea urchins and various tools for assessing trace element contamination in coastal ecosystems.

Active and passive biomonitoring of trace elements, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and polychlorinated biphenyls in small Mediterranean harbours

Pollution particularly affects coastal ecosystems due to their proximity to anthropic sources. Among those environments, harbours are subjected to marine traffic but also to accidental and chronic pollution. These areas are thus exposed to complex mixtures of contaminants such as trace elements and organic contaminants which can impact marine species, habitats, and ecosystem services. The monitoring of these compounds is thus a crucial issue for assessment of environmental health. In this context, the aim of the present work was to evaluate the chemical contamination of harbours in Corsica (NW Mediterranean) by measuring the bioaccumulation of trace elements, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and polychlorinated biphenyls in mussels, limpets, and sea cucumbers. The human health risks associated with seafood consumption were also assessed. Results reveal a relatively low contamination in the Corsican harbours studied compared to larger Mediterranean ports and suggest that the potential health risk for consumers eating seafood is low.