Metal Concentrations in Two Bioindicator Fish Species, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Merlangius merlangus</Emphasis>, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Mullus Barbatus</Emphasis>, Captured from the West Black Sea Coasts (Bartin) of Turkey

The Black Sea is very vulnerable to originating from land based human activities and its health is equally dependent on the coastal and non-coastal states of its basin. Total concentrations of cadmium, copper, zinc, lead, nickel, aluminum, iron, manganese, boron and chromium concentrations were determined in Merlangius merlangus (whiting) and Mullus barbatus found in Amasra in the West Coast of the Black Sea (Turkey). The metal contents that were measured in head and muscle was expressed in μg g⁻¹ wet weight. On average, while the highest Fe (344.25 μg g⁻¹), Mn (10.35 μg g⁻¹), Cr (0.96 μg g⁻¹) and Al (76.77 μg g⁻¹) concentrations were measured in the heads of M. merlangus and the highest Zn (77.99 μg g⁻¹), Cu(8.53 μg g⁻¹), B (44.83 μg g⁻¹), Ni (1.96 μg g⁻¹), Cd (0.40 μg g⁻¹) and Pb (6.80 μg g⁻¹) concentrations were detected in the muscles of M. merlangus. There were significant differences between metal levels of muscles in these two species. In terms of permissible levels reported by WHO FAO and TSE, there is not any risk for human consumption for both M. merlangus and M. barbatus, for Pb.     

Temporal Variation of Metals in Water,Sediment and Tissues of the European Chup (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Squalius cephalus</Emphasis> L.)

The aim of this study was to analyze seasonal variation of levels of Chromium (Cr), Manganese (Mn), Nickel (Ni), Copper (Cu), Zinc (Zn), Cadmium (Cd) and Lead (Pb) in water, sediment and tissues of Squalius cephalus (L., 1758) taken from five different stations chosen at Yamula Dam Lake (Kayseri, Turkey). Concentrations of metals were generally sorted as water<tissue<sediment. The highest concentration of metals in water was observed in the samples taken in the summer (Mn, 1.04 ± 0.15 mg L⁻¹; Ni, 0.42 ± 0.12 mg L⁻¹; Cu, 1.25 ± 0.88 mg L⁻¹; Zn, 3.61 ± 1.53 mg L⁻¹; Pb, 0.58 ± 0.09 mg L⁻¹). While the highest Zn (24.85 ± 21.82 μg g⁻¹) and Pb (10.89 ± 4.2 μg g⁻¹) concentrations in sediment were observed in the winter samples, the highest Mn concentration (167.2 ± 99.37 μg g⁻¹) was observed in the summer. Cd pollution was determined in sediment according to international criteria. The highest metal concentration in tissues was generally observed in the liver and the other tissues; following liver were gills and muscles. In liver tissues, while the highest accumulation of Zn (110.34 ± 13.1) and Mn (22.5 ± 14.85 μg g⁻¹), which are essential for the body, were observed in the winter, Pb (22.58 ± 7.83 μg g⁻¹) and Cd (11.77 ± 7.83 μg g⁻¹), which are toxic, were found to be higher in the summer. Also, concentrations of Mn, Cd and Pb in muscle tissues were found to be above the limits permitted.     

Sudden Cadmium Increases in the Digestive Gland of Scallop, Nodipecten nodosus L., Farmed in the Tropics

Cadmium bioaccumulation in Nodipecten nodosus reared on a marine farm in a tropical bay was measured in muscle tissue and the digestive glands in animals ranging from 6 to 16 months. No bioaccumulation tendencies regarding Cd concentration were observed in muscle tissue (below 1 μg g⁻¹), while in the digestive gland concentrations remained below 5 μg g⁻¹ until the organisms reached 10 months, and reached levels above 10 μg g⁻¹ from 12 months onwards (reaching 27 μg g⁻¹). This is the same bioaccumulation pattern noted in animals transplanted to a different Cd exposure. Allometry and environmental factors cannot explain this sudden increase.     

Distribution patterns of metals contamination in sediments based on type regional development on the intertidal coastal zones of the Persian Gulf, Iran

This study was performed to determine the variation of metals concentrations (Pb, Cd, Zn, and Cu) in surface sediments based on type region development from ten sites on the intertidal coastal zone of the Persian Gulf, Iran. The metals concentrations in surface sediments varied from 0.86 to 180.78 μg g⁻¹ for Pb, 0.61 to 6.48 μg g⁻¹ for Cd, 5.99 to 44.42 μg g⁻¹ for Zn, and 3.01 to 43.33 μg g⁻¹ for Cu. The quality of the sediments was evaluated based on sediment quality guidelines (effects range-low (ERL) and effects range-medium (ERM) indexes. Biological effects criteria suggest that metals concentrations in sediments were lower than ERM for all sites, but for some sites metals concentrations in sediments were higher than ERL. The present results support the concept that human activities in each region could be a major source of metals pollution input in the aquatic environment.     

Geographic distribution of arsenic and trace metals in lotic ecosystems of the Pampa Plain, Argentina

In this paper, the geographic distribution of arsenic and other trace elements in surface waters of 39 lotic ecosystems of central Argentina was evaluated. Manganese and arsenic were the most conspicuous elements, being present in 82% and 59% of the sampled ecosystems of this region, respectively. As concentration averaged 113.69 μg L⁻¹ varying between 55 and 198 μg L⁻¹, other trace elements were hardly detected or not detected at all. It was remarkable the absence of detectable concentrations of anthropogenically derived metals as lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd).     

Determination of Metal Levels in Thirteen Fish Species from Lakshadweep Sea

A bio-monitoring study was performed to investigate the concentration of certain metals (cadmium, cobalt, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, nickel, lead and zinc) in gill, skin and muscle of thirteen demersal fish species of Agatti Coast of Lakshadweep Sea. All the metal concentrations in gill are higher than skin and muscle. Concentrations of toxic metals such as Cd (0.61 ± 0.67 μg g⁻¹ in Gerres longirostris), Mn (0.83 ± 1.21 μg g⁻¹ in Lutjanus fulvus) and Ni (0.56 ± 0.83 μg g⁻¹ in L. bengalensis) were well above the permissible limits suggested by World Health Organization and Food and Agricultural Organizations.     

Content of Lead and Cadmium in Barred Hogfish, Bodianusscrofa, Island Grouper, Mycteroperca fusca, and Portuguese Dogfish, Centroscymnus coelolepis, from Canary Islands, Spain

Concentration of lead and cadmium has been analyzed in Bodianus scrofa and Mycteroperca fusca captured in the Canary Islands coast. Concentration of Pb ranged from 2.53 to 306.40 and 4.97 to 792.00 μg kg⁻¹ respectively, while that of Cd ranged from 1.75 to 1854.50 and 6.78 to 656.00 μg kg⁻¹. The same metals have been analyzed in muscles, liver and skin of Centroscymnus coelolepis from Canary Islands, with contents of Pb and Cd ranged between 24.18–96.12 μg kg⁻¹ and 32.00–3266.58 μg kg⁻¹ respectively, and in the Azores Archipelago, with concentrations of Pb and Cd ranged as follow: 18.41–38.99 μg kg⁻¹ and 5.23–4179.87 μg kg⁻¹ respectively. Percentage of contribution of both metals to the PTWIs, has also been calculated for both fishes.     

Vertical Fluxes and Accumulation of Trace Metals in Superficial Sediments of the Río de la Plata Estuary, Argentina

Superficial sediments and settling material collected in Buenos Aires coastal area were analyzed to evaluate the accumulation and sources of trace metals. Residual elements showed homogeneous sedimentary concentrations (Fe: 23,846 ± 4,367; Ni: 10 ± 2.7; Mn: 706 ± 314 μg g⁻¹) whereas anthropogenic metals presented exponentially decreasing offshore gradients (Zn: 98 ± 69; Cr: 28 ± 21; Cu: 19 ± 15; Pb: 18 ± 13 μg g⁻¹). Anthropogenic impact was evaluated through metal-Fe relationships, Fe-normalized enrichment factors and sediment quality guidelines. The slopes of metal-Fe regressions from background sites were comparable to upper crust metal ratios, excepted Cr which is impoverished, and Mn which is diagenetically enriched. Metal-Fe relationships also hold for most 2.5 km offshore sites but with higher slopes denoting human influence, and are completely lost in 1–2.5 km sediments and trap material which plot over the regressions and exceed sediment quality guidelines.     

Mercury and Selenium Bioaccumulation in the Smooth Hammerhead Shark, Sphyrna zygaena Linnaeus, from the Mexican Pacific Ocean

We analyzed total mercury and selenium bioaccumulation in muscle tissue and cartilage fibers (fins) from smooth hammerhead shark, Sphyrna zygaena, caught off Baja California Sur, Mexico. In muscle tissue, the mercury concentration ranged from 0.005 to 1.93 μg g⁻¹ ww (wet weight), which falls within the safety limits for food set by international agencies (Hg > 1.0 μg g⁻¹ ww). Only one specimen showed a mercury value that exceeded this limit. In fins, the mercury bioaccumulation was lower (<0.05). Selenium in muscle ranged from 0.11 to 1.63 μg g⁻¹ ww, while in fins it ranged from 0.13 to 0.56 μg g⁻¹ ww.     

Determination of Trace Elements Level of Pikeperch Collected from the Caspian Sea

Toxic and essential elements levels (chromium, copper, iron, manganese, nickel, lead, cadmium, and zinc) have been determined in the brain, heart, liver, gill, gonads, spleen, bile and muscle of S. lucioperca, collected from the Caspian Sea by employing Flame- Atomic absorption spectrometry. Results indicated that nearly all of the toxic metals concentrations (nickel, lead and cadmium) in tissues were higher than limits for fish suggested by Food and Agricultural Organization, World Health Organization and European Union. Lead was higher in spleen than other tissues. Levels of essential metals (iron, copper, zinc and manganese) were below the limits suggested by European Union and Food and Agricultural Organization/World Health Organization and Turkish Food Codex for fish. Iron distribution pattern in tissues was in the following order: heart (88.67 ± 2.74 μg g⁻¹ wet wt) > spleen (70.96 ± 2.05 μg g⁻¹ wet wt) > bile (29.35 ± 0.94 μg g⁻¹ wet wt) > brain (14.29 ± 0.51 μg g⁻¹ wet wt) > liver (8.57 ± 0.29 μg g⁻¹ wet wt) > gill (3.20 ± 0.14 μg g⁻¹ wet wt) > red (2.79 ± 0.11 μg g⁻¹ wet wt) and white muscles (2.79 ± 0.09 μg g⁻¹ wet wt) > gonads (2.57 ± 0.07 μg g⁻¹ wet wt).     

Mercury in Cultured Oysters (Crassostrea gigas Thunberg, 1793 and C. corteziensis Hertlein, 1951) from Four Coastal Lagoons of the SE Gulf of California, Mexico

In order to determine the mercury concentrations in cultured oysters from coastal lagoons (SE Gulf of California), several individuals of Crassostrea gigas and C. corteziensis were collected and their mercury levels were measured with a cold vapor analyzer. The mean concentrations during the rainy and dry seasons, respectively, were 0.70 and 0.15 μg g⁻¹ in C. gigas and 0.56 and 0.18 μg g⁻¹ in C. corteziensis. During the rainy season, elevated mercury contents are apparently related to terrigen transport from the watershed, while during the dry season, the moderate levels are related to upwellings.     

Impact of Elevated CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> and O<Subscript>3</Subscript> Concentrations on Biogenic Volatile Organic Compounds Emissions from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ginkgo biloba</Emphasis>

In natural environment with ambient air, ginkgo trees emitted volatile organic compounds 0.18 μg g⁻¹ h⁻¹ in July, and 0.92 μg g⁻¹ h⁻¹ in September. Isoprene and limonene were the most abundant detected compounds. In September, α-pinene accounted for 22.5% of the total. Elevated CO₂ concentration in OTCs increased isoprene emission significantly in July (p < 0.05) and September (p < 0.05), while the total monoterpenes emission was enhanced in July and decreased in September by elevated CO₂. Exposed to elevated O₃ increased the isoprene and monoterpenes emissions in July and September, and the total volatile organic compounds emission rates were 0.48 μg g⁻¹ h⁻¹ (in July) and 2.24 μg g⁻¹ h⁻¹ (in September), respectively. The combination of elevated CO₂ and O₃ did not have any effect on biogenic volatile organic compounds emissions, except increases of isoprene and Δ3-carene in September. Foundation item: The National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 90411019).     

Fate of Benfuracarb Insecticide in Mollisols and Brinjal Crop

The fate of benfuracarb was studied under field conditions in brinjal fruits and soil following foliar spray application at 0.25 and 0.50 μg g⁻¹ by HPLC. At 0.25 μg g⁻¹, benfuracarb persisted up to 7 days both in soil and brinjal but at 0.50 μg g⁻¹, benfuracarb residues persisted up to 10 and 12 days in soil and brinjal fruits, respectively. The persistence of benfuracarb residues, both in soil and brinjal, followed first-order kinetics. The half-life values of benfuracarb in soil and brinjal fruit were found to be 3.54 and 3.90 days at 0.25 μg g⁻¹ and 3.75 and 4.73 days at 0.50 μg g⁻¹, respectively.     

Concentrations of Mercury and Other Toxic Elements in Orange Roughy, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Hoplostethus atlanticus</Emphasis>, from the Mid-Atlantic Ridge

Concentrations of the elements mercury, arsenic, cadmium and lead were measured in the muscle tissue of Orange roughy (Hoplostethus atlanticus) obtained from the Mid-Atlantic Ridge during the Mar-Eco expedition in the North Atlantic Ocean in 2004. The age of the fish varied from 1 to 139 years. To the best of our knowledge, the concentration of the heavy metals presented here is for one of the oldest fish in the literature, in addition to the fact that very little information on arsenic in Orange roughy has been previously published. The concentration of mercury in the fillet of the fish varied between 0.06 and 1.1 μg g⁻¹ w.w. Mercury was the only element that was positively correlated to the age. The concentrations of mercury were found to be below the maximum limits for Orange roughy set by EU at 1.0 μg g⁻¹ w.w, except for a 134 year fish sample with a concentration of 1.1 μg g⁻¹ w.w.     

Mercury and Selenium in a Top-Predator Fish, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Trichiurus lepturus</Emphasis> (Linnaeus, 1758), from the Tropical Brazilian Coast,Rio de Janeiro

Muscular mercury and selenium were assessed in a voracious fish from three Brazilian coastal areas with different environmental conditions. Mercury was higher in specimens from Ilha Grande Bay (0.35 ± 0.17 μg g⁻¹) than in cutlassfish from Guanabara Bay (0.30 ± 0.15 μg g⁻¹) and Buzios coast (0.13 ± 0.08 μg g⁻¹), respectively. No difference was found regarding selenium among these areas. Mercury was positively correlated with fish length and size intervals (sub-adult, small and large adult), suggesting that larger and older fish bioaccumulated more mercury. A large excess of molar selenium in relation to mercury was observed.     

Comparative Study of Mercury Accumulation in Two Fish Species, (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Cyprinus carpio</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Sander lucioperca</Emphasis>) from Anzali and Gomishan Wetlands in the Southern Coast of the Caspian Sea

Anzali and Gomishan wetlands are considered as two of the most important wetlands in southern coast of Caspian Sea. To investigate mercury accumulation in these ecosystems, total mercury concentrations were measured in the muscle tissue of two fish species. Higher mercury concentrations were detected in C. carpio, an omnivorous benthic/pelagic species (Anzali wetland: 0.2 μg g⁻¹ wet weight; Gomishan wetland: 0.2 μg g⁻¹ wet weight), than in S. lucioperca, a carnivorous pelagic species (Anzali: 0.06 μg g⁻¹ wet weight; Gomishan: 0.15 μg g⁻¹ wet weight).     

Total Mercury in Fish, Sediments and Soil from the River Pra Basin, Southwestern Ghana

Total Mercury (Hg) concentrations were determined in soil, river sediments and six (6) species of fish from the River Pra Basin in southwestern Ghana by Cold Vapour Atomic Absorption Spectrometry. Mercury concentration (μg g⁻¹) ranged from 0.042 to 0.145 for soil: from 0.390 to 0.707 for sediments and from <0.001 to 0.370 for fish. All the fish samples had Hg concentration below the World Health Organisation (WHO) permissible limit of 0.5 μg g⁻¹ whereas all the sediment samples had levels higher than the US-EPA value of 0.2 μg g⁻¹. The results obtained from this study showed that fish from River Pra Basin are unlikely to constitute any significant mercury exposure to the public through consumption. No apparent trend of increasing mercury concentration along the main river as it flows downward toward the sea was observed.     

Trace Element Concentration in Groundwater,Tuticorin City,Tamil Nadu,India

The aim of the present study is to investigate the pollution vulnerability of groundwater aquifers in the coastal regions of Tuticorin city, Tamil Nadu, India. Fourteen samples were analyzed to determine the concentration of trace elements (Pb, Zn, Cd, Hg, Cr and Cu) in the groundwater. Among the total samples six were collected from industrial areas and eight from non-industrial areas of Tuticorin city. The concentration of trace element ranges from 0.01 to 0.19 mg/kg⁻¹ for Pb, from 0.01 to 0.16 mg/kg⁻¹ for Zn, from BDL to 0.21 mg/kg⁻¹ for Cd, from BDL (Below Detection Limit) to 0.023 mg/kg⁻¹ for Hg, from 0.02 to 0.18 mg/kg⁻¹ for Cr and from 0.01 to 0.16 mg/kg⁻¹ for Cu. The trace element concentration in groundwater is higher than the WHO suggested maximum permissible limit except Zn and Cu.     

Distribution of selenium, molybdenum and uranium in sediment cores from the Colorado River delta, Baja California, Mexico

The distribution of selenium, molybdenum and uranium was studied in ~1.5 m sediment cores from the Colorado River delta, at the Colorado (CR) and Hardy (HR) riverbeds. Core HR2 showed highest Se, Mo and U concentrations at its bottom (2.3, 0.95 and 1.8 μg g⁻¹) within a sandy-silt layer deposited prior to dam construction. In CR5 the highest concentrations of these elements (0.9, 1.4 and 1.7 μg g⁻¹ respectively) were located at the top of the core within a surface layer enriched in organic carbon. A few samples from HR2 had Se above the probable toxic effect level guidelines.     

Lead Concentrations in Zooplankton,Water, and Particulate Matter of a Southwestern Atlantic Temperate Estuary (Argentina)

This study presents for the first time valuable results of lead (Pb) accumulation in zooplankton from a southwestern Atlantic temperate estuary, the Bahía Blanca estuary, one of the most important and industrialized coastal environments of Argentina. It considers Pb concentrations in zooplankton organisms as well as in the dissolved and particulate phases. These fractions were analyzed on account of their important role in the biogeochemical cycles of trace elements in estuarine environments. In addition, the major physicochemical variables, i.e., nutrients, and pigment concentrations, and zooplankton composition and abundance, were also considered to understand Pb levels in the above-mentioned fractions. Samplings were performed from March to December 2005 with a bimonthly frequency and comprised a study area with stations located near industrial settlements and other stations a few kilometers far from these points. The results of the physicochemical variables and nutrients and pigments agreed with historic values for the estuary and did not present any evidence of abnormalities. Dissolved Pb presented a mean concentration of 2.15 ± 0.46 μg L⁻¹, whereas particulate Pb presented a mean concentration of 13.52 ± 3.07 μg g⁻¹ dry weight (dw). In the mesozooplankton, represented by copepods, the mean concentration was similar to the particulate fraction (13.38 ± 4.41 μg g⁻¹ dw), whereas in the macrozooplankton, represented by mysids, it was lower (9.81 ± 1.89 μg g⁻¹ dw). Thus, Pb concentrations were relatively high in the dissolved and particulate phases. Moreover, zooplankton accumulated important concentrations of this metal, which was mainly incorporated through suspended particulate matter (SPM). The source of Pb in all of these fractions is related to the industry discharges as well domestic sewage located near the sampling stations. Finally, through these results, it was possible to show the importance of zooplankton and SPM in the biogeochemical cycle of Pb as well as the interaction between these fractions in an estuarine and anthropogenic environment, such as the Bahía Blanca estuary.