Bioindicators Of Heavy Metal Pollution Research Articles

Molecular characterization of Metallothionein-cDNA of Sparus aurata used for detecting heavy metal pollution along the Mediterranean coast of Israel

Members of the fish family Sparidae are abundant in various continental shelf habitats along the Mediterranean, including relatively clean and polluted areas. The levels of metallothionein (MT)-mRNA in their liver is suggested here as a bioindicator parameter for the detection of heavy metals in Mediterranean marine habitats. A complete MT-cDNA was cloned from the liver of metal-induced Sparus aurata and used to evaluate the MT-mRNA levels in the livers of the abundant coastal sparid species, Lithognathus mormyrus, both after laboratory induction by cadmium and in fish sampled along a pollution gradient at Haifa Bay, the Mediterranean coast of Israel. It is concluded that the MT-mRNA in L. mormyrus liver is a good bioindicator of heavy metal pollution in the marine environment, because of the following: it is heavy metal-inducible; its level is turned off rather rapidly after the elimination of the inducing agents; and it is shown to be correlated to a heavy metal pollution gradient in a natural marine habitat.

Water striders (Heteroptera, Gerridae) as bioindicators of heavy metal pollution

Heavy metal contents of water striders collected near a steel factory and from control sites were analyzed by AAS. The average concentrations µg/g of dry weight found near the factory vs. the control areas were: Al 76, 65; Fe 840, 330; Mn 49, 37; Zn 310, 280; Cu 44, 42; Cd 1.6, 6.5, respectively. In most cases Ni and Pb concentrations were below the determination limit in both sites. There were significant differences between sites in the concentrations of iron and cadmium. Fifth instar larvae had higher iron content than adults, but sexes did not differ in heavy metal content. There were also significant differences between different water strider species as accumulators of zinc, aluminium and cadmium. It is concluded that water striders seem suitable as bioindicators of heavy metals.

Heavy Metal Contamination in a Lizard, Agama stellio stellio, Compared in Urban, High Altitude and Agricultural, Low Altitude Areas of North Greece

Contamination from heavy metals is a serious problem recognized In most countries of the world. Direct methods of metal detection are applied to soil and water; Indirect methods use plants and animals as bioindicators. Reptiles have not been used as bioindicators for various reasons: difficulty in sampling, ancient fears, little economic Importance, difficulty in the laboratory etc. Since Invertebrates are the prey of most lizards, the uptake of metals through invertebrates is an important pathway. Heavy metals accumulate through food ingestion and by incidental soil ingestion of soil. Reptiles have recently started to be used as bioindicators of pesticides entering the environment, with great success. The environment in Greece has a burden of heavy metals. The purpose of this paper is to ascertain whether reptiles, especially lizards, can be used as bioindicators of heavy metal pollution by compacting indirectly the level of pollution of two areas differing to some extent ecologically In the vicinity of a large city and in the vicinity of cultivated areas. The bioindicator species was the lizard Agama stellio stellio. 28 refs., 1 tab.

Heavy metal accumulation in tissue/organs of a sea cucumber, Holothuria leucospilota

Holothuria leucospilota Brandt, the large black sea cucumber, is a non-selective deposit feeder, and is commonly found in the bottom of shallow waters in Hong Kong, where the sediments are often polluted with heavy metals. This study was designed to test the possibility of heavy metal accumulation by the sea cucumber at two sites in Hong Kong. Atomic absorption spectrophotometer was used to measure Cu and Zn concentrations in various tissue/organs of the animal as well as in the sediments. The result indicated that H. leucospilota accumulated zinc in the longitudinal muscle bands (97.27–98.07 ppm in dry weight) and in the respiratory tree (83.92–89.64 ppm in dry weight). Copper concentrations in these two organs were much lower than that of zinc. After the animals were kept in the aquarium without sediment for40 days, zinc concentration of the longitudinal muscle and respiratory tree decreased by 48% and 39%respectively whereas copper concentration remained unchanged. The concentrations of zinc and copper in the sediment at the two sites differed significantly but the metal level in the animals from the two sites were similar, suggesting that this sea cucumber was not an ideal bioindicator of heavy metal pollution in the sediment.

The effect of nickel mining and metallurgical activities on the distribution of heavy metals in Levisa Bay, Cuba

The distribution of Ni, Co, Fe, Mn, Cu, Pb and Zn was investigated in surface and core sediment samples and i n the leaves of the red mangrove ( Rhizophora mangle) from Levisa Bay, an area affected by nickel mining and metallurgical activities. The results revealed that these activities have seriously polluted the sediments, especially by Ni. Fe, Co and Mn, with concentrations decreasing with increasing distance from discharge sources. The concentrations of Fe (0.64-22.66%) and Co. Mn and Ni (7.7–324, 125–2957 and 69–4764 μ/g, respectively) were up to two orders of magnitude greater than those of non-polluted coastal areas in Cuba. Rhizophora mangle was shown to be a useful bioindicator of heavy metal pollution in the studied ecosystem.

Motility and phototactic orientation of the flagellate Euglena gracilis impaired by heavy metal ions

The effects of the heavy metal ions copper, cadmium, mercury and lead on motility and photo-orientation have been assayed in the photosynthetic flagellate Euglena gracilis. The first three elements were tested in both short-term and long-term experiments, but lead was only tested in short-term experiments. Copper significantly impairs growth, measured as cell division, at concentrations of greater than 5 μM and motility at concentrations of greater than 100 μM. Cadmium affects growth at greater than 3 μM and motility at 10 μM, and mercury is effective at greater than 1 μM (growth) and greater than 0.1 μM (motility). Lead decreases motility on short-term exposure at greater than 30 μM, but the effect decreases with time in the heavy metal solution. Phototaxis and swimming velocity are affected by all four heavy metals. Copper is effective at concentrations of greater than 50 μM with phototaxis being impaired more strongly in older cultures and velocity being affected more significantly in younger cultures. The same is true for mercury and cadmium; in addition, these heavy metals affect negative phototaxis at far lower concentrations than positive phototaxis. The results indicate that the effects of the pollutants in aquatic habitats strongly depend on the age of the culture and the time and duration of exposure to these ions, which must be taken into consideration when this system is used as a bioindicator for heavy metal pollution in aquatic habitats.

Heavy metal contamination in Polish national parks

Lichens ( Hypogymnia physodes L.) were used as a bioindicator of heavy metal pollution in ten Polish national parks. Significant differences were found between particular parks in the concentrations of metals (Cd, Pb, Cu, Zn, Fe). The lowest concentrations were found in Wigierski National Park. A global pollution index was calculated to compare the contamination of all investigated parks.

Melissopalynological analysis applied to air pollution studies in urban areas of Modena and Reggio Emilia (Italy)

This paper presents melissopalynological investigations applied to air pollution studies. During this research honey produced in an urban environment was subjected to pollen analysis. Also, the honey was chemically analysed for studies using the bee as a bioindicator of heavy metal pollution (Pb, Cd, Cr, Ni). In 1987–88, 96 samples from the cities of Modena and Reggio Emilia were examined. Palynological analysis under the microscope was complemented by direct observations of the environment, e.g. movements of honey-bees, phenology, plant distribution. Results of melissopalynological analysis proved the wide potential of bees as bioindicators. Moreover, these data supply useful information for the full interpretation of chemical analyses. In particular, it is possible to verify the correspondence between honey and monitored period to check if the sample was in fact produced in the previous month. It is also possible to correlate the honey and the monitored site, i.e., the preferential routes of bees. Finally, it is worthwhile pointing out the presence of the honeydew in the composition of the examined sample: this substance can act as a «trap» for airborne particles, increasing their concentration in honey.

Long-term uptake and release of heavy metals by Ascophyllum nodosum (L.) le jol. (phaeophyceae) in situ

The long-term uptake and release of zinc, cadmium, lead and mercury by the seaweed Ascophyllum nodosum were studied in situ by transferring whole plants from localities with low, to localities with high, levels of heavy metals in the water and vice versa. Zinc and cadmium were taken up very slowly in winter and relatively quickly in summer while the uptake of lead showed comparatively little seasonal variation. The results for mercury were less clear, but indicated a moderate seasonal variation. The release of zinc, cadmium and mercury showed a marked seasonal variation. It is suggested that the uptake and release of zinc and cadmium require an input of metabolic energy while the accumulation of lead may be governed by an ionic-exchange process similar to that known for strontium. The practical use of A. nodosum as bioindicator of heavy metal pollution is discussed.

Mosses as bioindicators of heavy metal pollution in polish national parks

The concentrations of heavy metals (Cd, Co, Cr, Ni, Cu, Ph, Zn, Mn, Fe) and other elements (Mg, Na, K, Ca) were determined in the samples of Pleurozium schreberi and Hylocomium splendens from 12 Polish national parks. The significant differences in the concentrations of all heavy metals between particular parks were found. The lowest concentrations of these metals were recorded in the mosses from the national parks in northern Poland, the highest in southern Poland. Significant differences in the heavy metals contents of the mosses between central and peripheral park areas, between green and brown parts of mosses, as well as between moss species were also found.