Heavy metals in the aquatic environment of the Southern Adriatic Sea, Italy: Macroalgae, sediments and benthic species

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Abstract

Samples of sea urchins (Paracentrotus lividus), holothurians (Holothuria polii), green algae (Ulva lactuca, Codium vermilara and Enteromorpha prolifera) and sediments were collected from different coastal zones of the South Adriatic Sea (Italy). The occurrence of metals in macroalgae is poor especially if compared with that reported in other coastal areas affected by human activities, with the exception of Fe that showed high mean values (405 μg g−1 dry wt.). Likewise, relationships between metal concentrations in holothurians and sediments were found, demonstrating that H. polii could serve as bioindicator for Hg and Cu.

Section snippets

Indroduction

Urban and industrial activities introduce large amounts of pollutants into the marine environment, causing significant and permanent disturbances in marine systems and, consequently, environmental and ecological degradation. This phenomenon is especially significant in the coastal zones that are the main sinks of almost all anthropogenic discharges of pollutants. It has long been recognised that metals in the marine environment have a particular significance in the ecotoxicology, since they are

Materials and methods

Samples of sea urchins (P. lividus), holothurians (H. polii), green algae (Ulva lactuca, Codium vermilara and Enteromorpha prolifera) and sediments were collected in nine stations along the Apulian coast (South Adriatic Sea, Italy) (Fig. 1) in April 1998. Sea urchins, holothurians and seaweeds were caught by scuba diving. After collection, the samples were placed in polythene bags and transported to the laboratory in icebox. Seaweed samples were initially washed under a jet of tap water, then

Results and discussions

Metal concentrations determined in the different species of macroalgae and in gonads of P. lividus from all sampling stations are given in Table 2. As regards macroalgae, among essential elements, metal concentrations were in the order Fe>Zn>Cu. The mean concentrations of Fe, Zn and Cu varied from 337.10 to 553.01, 58.79 to 127.27 and 10.33 to 12.07 μg g−1 dry wt., respectively. No significant differences of concentration were detected in the three species of algae examined (ANOVA test, Table 2

Uncited references

Deplege and Rainbow, 1990

Morrison et al., 1989

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