Abstract:
The purpose of this present study is to assess the bioaccumulation of a few trace metal
elements (TME) such as cadmium, lead, arsenic, nickel, manganese, copper and zinc, in four
mussel tissues (gill, digestive gland, gonad and remains of flesh) of the two species, Mytilus
galloprovincialis and Perna perna, from four sites on the central Algerian coast (Figuier,
Boudouaou El Bahri, Surcouf and port of Algiers). This work allows us to locate the potential
tissues of accumulation, and deduce the impacts that may occur to these species, when these
contaminants are present in the marine environment.
Analysis of metallic trace elements in mussel tissues was carried out by inductively coupled
plasma mass spectrometry ICP-MS (Agilent 7700x).
The obtained results show a high storage capacity of the tissues: gills and digestive glands for
the mussels sampled from the three sites, in terms of the studied TME. On the other hand, low
abundances of metallic traces were recorded in the gonads and the flesh’s remain of the
studied mussels.
The levels of TME, during the four studied seasons, reveal very significant spatial differences.
In fact, manganese and nickel are more concentrated in the mussels coming from Figuier and
Boudouaou El Bahri sites. This suggests an excessive use of phytosanitary products
(pesticides) by agriculture in the area. Significantly high cadmium contents were found in the
mussels collected at Surcouf. The discharges from various industrial units installed in the
Reghaia and Rouiba zones are the possible sources of this cadmium contamination. In the port
of Algiers, significant lead and copper concentrations were detected in the various mussel
tissues. This result is explained by the spillages of several products from the activities located
in this enclosure (navigation, maintenance and ship repair).
The results of this present study do not reveal any contamination of cadmium and lead for
mussels sampled in the three studied sites Figuier, Boudouaou El Bahri and Surcouf, and
therefore no health risk is presented after their consumption.
Key words: metal trace elements, mussel, bioaccumulation, contamination, central algerian
coast.
The purpose of this present study is to assess the bioaccumulation of a few trace metal
elements (TME) such as cadmium, lead, arsenic, nickel, manganese, copper and zinc, in four
mussel tissues (gill, digestive gland, gonad and remains of flesh) of the two species, Mytilus
galloprovincialis and Perna perna, from four sites on the central Algerian coast (Figuier,
Boudouaou El Bahri, Surcouf and port of Algiers). This work allows us to locate the potential
tissues of accumulation, and deduce the impacts that may occur to these species, when these
contaminants are present in the marine environment.
Analysis of metallic trace elements in mussel tissues was carried out by inductively coupled
plasma mass spectrometry ICP-MS (Agilent 7700x).
The obtained results show a high storage capacity of the tissues: gills and digestive glands for
the mussels sampled from the three sites, in terms of the studied TME. On the other hand, low
abundances of metallic traces were recorded in the gonads and the flesh’s remain of the
studied mussels.
The levels of TME, during the four studied seasons, reveal very significant spatial differences.
In fact, manganese and nickel are more concentrated in the mussels coming from Figuier and
Boudouaou El Bahri sites. This suggests an excessive use of phytosanitary products
(pesticides) by agriculture in the area. Significantly high cadmium contents were found in the
mussels collected at Surcouf. The discharges from various industrial units installed in the
Reghaia and Rouiba zones are the possible sources of this cadmium contamination. In the port
of Algiers, significant lead and copper concentrations were detected in the various mussel
tissues. This result is explained by the spillages of several products from the activities located
in this enclosure (navigation, maintenance and ship repair).
The results of this present study do not reveal any contamination of cadmium and lead for
mussels sampled in the three studied sites Figuier, Boudouaou El Bahri and Surcouf, and
therefore no health risk is presented after their consumption.
Key words: metal trace elements, mussel, bioaccumulation, contamination, central algerian
coast.