Toxicities of ten metals to Crassostrea gigas and Mytilus edulis embryos and Cancer magister larvae

Pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas Thunberg) embryos, bay mussel (Mytilus edulis Linnaeus) embryos, and Dungeness crab (Cancer magister Dana) zoea I stage larvae were exposed to arsenic, cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, mercury, nickel, selenium, silver, and zinc salts. The two bivalve species were exposed through the completion of embryogenesis (48 h), and the effects of the metals upon abnormal development were monitored. The crab larval stages were exposed to the metal solutions for 96 h. Concentrations (μg l_.^?1 as metal) which caused 50% abnormal development in the two species of bivalve larvae and which were fatal to 50% of the crab larvae ranged from 5.3 (oyster) to 49 (crab) for copper; 5.8 (mussel) to 8.2 (crab) for mercury; 14 (mussel) to 55 (crab) for silver; 119 (oyster) to 456 (crab) for zinc; 232 (crab) to 3000 (mussel) for arsenic; 247 (crab) to 1200 (mussel) for cadmium; 349 (oyster) to 4360 (crab) for nickel; 476 (mussel) to 758 (oyster) for lead; 3440 (crab) to 4538 (oyster) for hexavalent chromium; and selenium greater than 10 000 for the three species. The acute toxicity testing of C. gigas embryo together with two California native species confirmed its usefulness for predicting toxicity to the latter species.     

Trace metals in fish and invertebrates of three California coastal Wetlands

Metal concentrations were measured in selected fish and invertebrate species from Mugu Lagoon, Malibu Lagoon and Ballona Wetlands in southern California in order to assess the extent of metal contamination in these three wetlands. Ranges of element concentrations (in microgram/g) found in biota were: Zn 12-650; Cu 1.9-440; Ni < 1-37; Cr < 1-55; Pb < 0.5-6.8; As < 1-8.5; Se < 1-3.8; Cd < 0.2-0.90; and Ag < 0.3-5.9. Relative to previous studies of California biota, the highest metal concentrations found were for chromium and nickel. The highest levels were in one of the two bottom-dwelling fish (juvenile Leptocottus armatus) (55 micrograms/g) and the two water-column fish sampled (Fundulus parvipinnis and Atherinops affinis) (30 and 24 micrograms/g). At Ballona Lagoon, elevated levels of copper and silver were found in the bivalve Tagelus californianus (440 and 5.9 micrograms/g). Chromium and nickel appeared to be most persistent in fish from Mugu (4.6-55 and 2.6-37 micrograms/g), the most northern site and an active military base, and Ballona (< 1-30 and < 1-16 micrograms/g), believed to be the most metal-contaminated site. Compared to previously measured metal concentrations in species of California coastal waters, these regions revealed higher levels of chromium, nickel, silver, arsenic, zinc, copper and, to a lesser extent, cadmium and selenium. Chromium and silver were present at high enough levels at all three sites to be considered environmental health hazards.     

Trace elements in farmed and wild gilthead seabream, Sparus aurata

In the present study, we sought to determine the concentration of several trace elements (total and organic mercury, selenium, cadmium, lead, arsenic, copper, chromium, iron, manganese, molybdenum, vanadium and zinc) in muscle tissue of gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata), an edible finfish species that is widely cultured in the Mediterranean area. The phenomenon of bioaccumulation and bioamplification (especially of mercury) was investigated by comparing farmed fish with wild specimens of the same species. Farmed specimens showed mercury and arsenic concentrations significantly lower than wild specimens, and no relationship was found between mercury concentration and body size. The lower level of methylmercury in farmed fish has important implications for consumer health.     

Trace elements in Acartia clausi from Elefsis bay of the Upper Saronikos Gulf,Greece

Twelve trace elements (antimony, arsenic, cadmium, chromium, cobalt, copper, iron, managenese, mercury, scandium, selenium and zinc) were determined by neutron activation analysis in a planktonic copepod (Acartia clausi) from Elefsis Bay of the Upper Saronikos Gulf, Greece. During the first cruise (January 1974) higher levels of most of these trace elements were found in this copepod collected from a polluted area of the bay. This trend however was not observed during the second cruise (February 1974) possibly due to the termination of the active vertical convection. Lower levels of cobalt, similar levels of iron and slightly increased levels of chromium were found in Elefsis Bay Acartia clausi from those reportedin Acartia clausi from the Bay of Roquebrune. Slightly increased concentrations of antimony and zinc as well as lower concentrations of arsenic and cadmium were found in Acartia clausi than those reported in other Copepoda. No significant differences were found for copper, manganese and mercury. More data are needed to confirm if higher levels of antimony, chromium and zinc found in Acartia clausi are due to the pollution of the bay.     

Heavy metals in surface sediment and epibenthic macroinvertebrates from the coastal zone and continental slope of Kenya

In surface sediments, a statistically significant increase was measured in the concentration of copper and cadmium along all transects, and of zinc along only the most southern (Gazi) transect, radiating into the Indian Ocean perpendicular to the Kenyan coast. Mean copper and cadmium increased from 5 to 30 μg g⁻¹ dry wt and from 0.01 to 0.34 μg g⁻¹ dry wt in shallow coastal (±20 m depth) to deep-sea stations (±2000 m depth), respectively. These gradients were found both during the south-east monsoon and north-east monsoon period. The shallow estuarine zone of the Sabaki river mouth showed significantly enhanced levels of total organic carbon and nitrogen and all metals analysed, except cadmium.In crustaceans, the concentration of copper and particularly cadmium was significantly above baseline levels, varying from 45 to 90 μg g⁻¹ dry wt and 1.0 to 8.5 μg g⁻¹ dry wt, respectively. Zinc levels (49–102 μg g⁻¹ dry wt) were at about baseline levels or a little elevated. On the contrary, lead showed very low concentrations, varying from 0.1 to 0.6 μg g⁻¹ dry wt. Other species generally showed the same pattern.     

Trace Metals in Selected Benthic Invertebrates from Belgian Coastal Waters (1981–1996)

Mercury, cadmium, lead, copper, zinc and chromium were assessed in brown shrimp (Crangon crangon), swimming crab (Liocarcinus holsatus), hermit crab (Pagurus bernhardus), starfish (Asterias rubens) and cut trough shell (Spisula subtruncata) from ten sampling stations off the Belgian coast, including three dredge spoils disposal sites. Calculations of time trends indicated that on the whole concentrations of trace metals had significantly decreased since 1981, also on dredged material dumping sites. Starfish and hermit crab were found to be the most promising benthic indicator species for metal contamination. Globally, the location of the sites, including the dredge spoils disposal zones, showed to be of little influence on the concentrations of trace metals.     

Selenium and heavy metals in black marlin

Black marlin from the apparently unpolluted waters off north-eastern Australia have the highest muscle and liver concentrations of total mercury yet reported for a teleost species. Selenium concentrations are also high. There is a significant correlation between mercury and selenium concentrations, and concentrations of both those elements are significantly correlated to size of fish. Concentrations of cadmium, lead, zinc, copper or arsenic are not so correlated.The results of this study indicate there is a need for a moratorium on the use of this species for human consumption.     

滇池沉积物金属污染及环境质量评价

对滇池126个采样点沉积物0-5cm、5-10cm和10-20~m中Cu、Zn、Fb、Cr、CA、Hg和As等7种金属的含量进行了分析测定.用基于多方的基准中阈值效应含量TEC和可能效应含量PEC划分出5个沉积物环境质量等级.并借助灰色聚类分析方法对滇池沉积物环境质量进行了评价.结果表明,滇池沉积物环境质量整体上为Ⅲ类,存在中度的金属污染.其中0-5m和5-10cm为Ⅲ类沉积物,10-20Cm为Ⅱ类沉积物.沉积物环境质量下层优于上层,表明滇池沉积物金属污染仍存在不断加剧的趋势.     

Heavy metal contamination from gold mining recorded in Porites lobata skeletons, Buyat-Ratototok district, North Sulawesi, Indonesia

Shallow marine sediments and fringing coral reefs of the Buyat-Ratototok district of North Sulawesi, Indonesia, are affected by submarine disposal of tailings from industrial gold mining and by small-scale gold mining using mercury amalgamation. Between-site variation in heavy metal concentrations in shallow marine sediments was partially reflected by trace element concentrations in reef coral skeletons from adjacent reefs. Corals skeletons recorded silicon, manganese, iron, copper, chromium, cobalt, antimony, thallium, and lead in different concentrations according to proximity to sources, but arsenic concentrations in corals were not significantly different among sites. Temporal analysis found that peak concentrations of arsenic and chromium generally coincided with peak concentrations of silica and/or copper, suggesting that most trace elements in the coral skeleton were incorporated into detrital siliciclastic sediments, rather than impurities within skeletal aragonite.     

Trace elements in two marine fish species during estuarine residency: Non-essential versus essential

Trace element levels in fish are of particular interest, owing the potential risk to human health. In accordance, juveniles of Dicentrarchus labrax and of Liza aurata were sampled and arsenic, cadmium, chromium, selenium and zinc were determined in the muscle. The levels of trace elements in muscle demonstrated to be similar for both species and sites, with the exception of selenium levels at reference, which seemed to be higher in D. labrax. Moreover, apart from arsenic levels in muscle, all elements were in conformity with the existent regulatory guidelines for fish consumption. The dietary intake of each element was also calculated, with arsenic and selenium showing intakes above the recommended dietary allowances. Nevertheless, no arsenic speciation was carried out and thus no accurate risk evaluation could be established. Additionally, selenium levels never exceeded the dietary allowances more than five times, which are considered safe.     

2600年以来台湾大鬼湖中的金属通量

Sediment cores were collected from the remote subalpine Great Ghost Lake in southern Taiwan. Because the lake is anoxic the sediments are well preserved, distinctive past variations can be dated accurately. The vertical distributions of total and acid-leached metal concentrations for aluminum, arsenic, cadmium, cerium, chromium, cesium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, nickel, lead, rubidium, strontium, vanadium and zinc are measured and the fluxes determined. The dates of higher fluxes in the past 2600 years seem to correlate with dry spells. Further, trace metal fluxes show a large increase but Pb-206/Pb-207 ratios show a large decrease since 1950, suggesting a significant anthropogenic input.     

Zinc in Fish, Crabs, Oysters, and Mangrove Flora and Fauna from Cleveland Bay

Zinc in muscle tissue from 28 species of fish, three species of sharks and rays, two species of squid and cuttlefish, and three species of crustacea collected from Cleveland Bay, together with some measurements made on oysters and mangrove flora and fauna are reported. In the fish species the mean Zn concentration in muscle tissue was 4.83 ± 2.82 μg/g wet weight, slightly lower than zinc measurements (7 μg/g wet weight) made in 14 fish species collected from the bay in 1975. Zinc in sharks and rays ranged from 3.5 to 7.2 μg/g wet wt, in squid and cuttlefish 13–16 μg/g wet wt, and in crustacea levels ranged from 14 to 18 μg/g wet wt. Zinc levels in fish varied between species with concentrations well below the ANZECC Maximum Residue Limit of zinc in seafood (150 μg/g wet wt). Although lower zinc concentrations were found in oysters collected from the Townsville Harbour area (2080 μg/g wet wt), compared with previous measurements made 25 years ago at this site, these levels are still above the Maximum Residue Limit for zinc in oysters (1000 μg/g wet wt). Concentrations of zinc in oysters from Orpheus Island (2547 μg/g wet wt), about 74 km away from industrial and urban activity, are also above the safe guideline values. Horseshoe Bay oysters transplanted to Ross Creek accumulated zinc at a rate of about 100 μg/g of oyster tissue per week, suggesting that dissolved zinc levels at this site are elevated, and that oysters rapidly accumulate zinc. Highest concentrations of zinc in mangrove leaves (30–65 μg/g dry wt) occurred in Osbornia octodonta, Exocaria agalocha, and Aegialitus annulata, compared with Ceriops tagal, and Avicennia marina (5–10 μg/g dry wt). No significant difference in zinc concentration occurred between leaves and litter fall for most of these species, with the sole exception of Exocaria, which showed almost a twofold increase in concentration. In seven species of mangrove fauna levels of zinc were very uniform and close to 50 μg/g (dry wt) Telescopium telescopium from the mouth of the Ross Estuary was the exception with levels at 400 μg/g (dry wt).     

Petroleum and PAH contamination of the Black Sea

Concern has been expressed regarding the extent of contamination of the Black Sea. Analyses of coastal sediments taken from throughout the region indicate, however, that levels of petroleum hydrocarbons (2-300 microg g(-1) dry wt total hydrocarbons) are generally comparable to those encountered in the Mediterranean and are lower than concentrations reported for highly contaminated areas such as the Gulf, Hong Kong, Taiwan and New York Bight. Highest concentrations of total hydrocarbons (>100 microg g(-1) dry wt) were associated with discharges from Odessa, Sochi and the River Danube. Chronic/degraded petroleum was the major contributor at these sites. Samples from the Ukrainian coastline were comparatively clean (<10 microg g(-1) dry wt total hydrocarbons). Major contributions of fresh oil (as indicated by sigma n-C14-34) occur through the River Danube. Concerning total PAH, concentrations (7-638 ng g(-1) dry wt) compare to relatively unpolluted locations in the Mediterranean and are much lower than levels reported for polluted UK estuaries (e.g. Mersey, Tyne, Thames). Both pyrolytic and petrogenic PAH are present in most samples, although petroleum derived PAH are dominant at Sochi and pyrolytic sources are prevalent in the Bosphorus region. The absence of a correlation between total hydrocarbons and PAH (R2 = 0.04) indicates different primary sources for the two.     

A history of metal pollution in the Upper Gulf of Thailand

Sediment cores were taken from the Upper Gulf of Thailand and 5-cm strata were analysed for cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, zinc and aluminium. At the Chao Phrya River mouth area, enriched concentrations of cadmium and lead were observed at the top end of the cores. On applying the sedimentation rates found by the ²¹⁰Pb method, these layers were found to correspond to the past 30 years. No enrichment was found for chromium, copper or zinc.     

Trace metals in finfish from the New York Bight and Long Island Sound

Concentrations of silver, cadmium, chromium, copper, mercury, manganese, nickel, lead and zinc were measured in five species of finfish collected from the New York Bight and two from Long Island Sound. With few exceptions the trace metal contents were similar for the various species examined and also for a single species when comparing catch locations. Metal levels also were similar to concentrations reported by two other investigators who studied fish from the North Atlantic.     

Trace metals in corals from the Great Barrier Reef

Various octocorallian and scleractinian corals from within the Great Barrier Reef Province were analysed for zinc, copper, cadmium, nickel and lead by atomic absorption spectroscopy. Of the two coral groups, the octocorals accumulated significantly greater amounts of all detectable metals. The soft coral, Sarcophyton sp., revealed distinct inter-locational differences for zinc, copper and cadmium. The potential of this genus for monitoring trace metal pollution in tropical reef waters is briefly discussed.     

Age-related change and distribution of cadmium and zinc concentrations in the Steller sea lion (Eumetopias jubata) from the coast of Hokkaido,Japan

Tissue cadmium and zinc levels in Steller sea lions have been analysed to elucidate the body distribution of these metals and their age-related accumulation. A significant correlation between age (0.7–8.8 year old) and renal and hepatic cadmium concentration was noted. Of the tissues examined, the kidney manifested the highest cadmium content (mean: 20.9 μg g^?1 dry wt). A similar zinc distribution pattern was observed; its concentration was more uniform among tissues than that of cadmium. The tissue cadmium concentration in the Steller sea lion was lower than in other pinnipeds from various areas, possibly due to their feeding habits which may represent a major pathway of metal accumulation.     

Trace elements migrating from tailings to rock varnish laminated sediments in an old mining region from Nelson,Nevada, USA

The dispersion and influence of soluble and particulate trace elements(TEs) present in the materials from abandoned mines is an imminent problem on terrestrial and aquatic environments.The goal of this research is to provide a broader view of such transport,assessing particle size distribution and TE interactions(e.g.,scavenging) with mine tailings and locally derived sediments transported by water in arid region.Sand grains from wash sediment were collected from a dry ephemeral wash in Nelson,N...     

The interpretation of body trace metal concentrations in neogastropods from Hong Kong.

Three species of neogastropods, i.e., Thais clavigera, Thais luteostoma and Morula musiva, were collected from 12 sites in the coastal waters of Hong Kong, including clean and known metal-enriched ones. Accordingly, body trace metal concentrations varied greatly. Copper and zinc body concentrations compared poorly with those of accepted biomonitors and presumed metal contamination profiles. Much is known about the feeding ecology of neogastropods on local shores and where direct observational data were not available, their diets could, nevertheless, be estimated reliably. Accumulated metal concentrations can be interpreted with regard to dietary history. T. luteostoma, for example, had body copper concentrations of 51.8 microg g(-1) on an exposed shore and a diet of mainly barnacles. In contrast, on a sheltered shore (but only some 250 m distant) where the diet consisted mainly of oysters, body copper concentrations were approximately 15 times greater at 833 microg g(-1). Similar results were obtained for T. clavigera. The results of this analysis suggest that neogastropods can play a significant role in trace metal trophic transfer studies, especially as their representatives are intertidally and subtidally ubiquitous and can be spatially separated into tropical specialists and temperate generalists.     

A recent history of metal accumulation in the sediments of Rijeka harbor, Adriatic Sea, Croatia

We studied metal pollution in the sediments of Rijeka harbor, including anthropogenic influence during recent decades and at the present time. Sediment profiles were collected at ten sampling points. The concentrations of 63 elements in bulk sediment were obtained using ICP-MS, and the concentrations of selected elements were evaluated by statistical factor analyses. We also calculated metal-enrichment factors and geoaccumulation indices and constructed spatial-distribution maps.Mercury (Hg) was the heaviest pollutant, with concentrations exceeding 4 mg/kg. Silver (Ag) was the second most important pollutant, with constantly increasing values. The average concentrations of the most toxic elements were comparable to those found in sediments of other ports throughout the world, and their toxicity ranged from threshold values [chromium (Cr), arsenic (As)] and midrange-effect values [cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), nickel (Ni)] to extreme-effect values (Hg). Metal pollution has decreased during recent decades, except for Ag and barium (Ba).