aromatic hydrocarbons was determined in organisms from sites with differences in
contamination, Bou smail Bay and Alger Bay, Zemmouri Bay, and less impacted. The
concentration of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons was determined in the molluscs collected
from the medioltoral stage. Seawater was also sampled from the same sites to make a
comparison. Both species provided similar information on the total PAH concentration related
to the level of contamination at the site. Differences in the typology of polycyclic aromatic
hydrocarbons between species may derive from interspecies variation in ingestion and mode
of nutrition.
The limpet can be used as an alternative approach to investigate the presence and sources
of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in coastal areas.
Key words: polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, limpets, mussels, bioindicators, seawater,
coastal Algiers.