Environmental and human health risk assessment of trace metals in the mussel ecosystem from the Southwestern Mediterranean

Yassine Guendouzi; Dina Lila Soualili; Scott W Fowler; Mostefa Boulahdid

doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2019.110820

Environmental and human health risk assessment of trace metals in the mussel ecosystem from the Southwestern Mediterranean

Mar Pollut Bull. 2020 Feb:151:110820. doi: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2019.110820. Epub 2019 Dec 17.

Authors

Yassine Guendouzi¹, Dina Lila Soualili², Scott W Fowler³, Mostefa Boulahdid⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Natural Sciences and Life, Sciences Institute, Tipaza University Center, Ouade Merzouk 42000, Tipaza, Algeria. Electronic address: guendouzi.yacine@cu-tipaza.dz.
² Department of Marine Sciences and Aquaculture, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Life, Abdelhamid Ibn Badis University, PO Box 300, Mostaganem 27000, Algeria.
³ School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794-5000, USA.
⁴ National School of Marine Sciences and Coastal Management, Po Box 19, University Campus, Dely Ibrahim 16320, Algeria.

PMID: 32056613
DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2019.110820

Abstract

This study evaluates the geographical distribution of Pb, Cd, Cr, Ni, Co, Cu, Zn, Mn and Fe in wild mussels Mytilus galloprovincialis as well as in associated suspended particulate matter (SPM) and sediments from the Algerian coast. The bioaccumulation (metal concentrations in tissue), bioavailability (metal indices) and bioconcentration of trace metals from the adjacent environment were assessed. The computed pollution load index (PLI) indicates that the sediments are not polluted by these metals, except for Zn which shows a moderate level of contamination. All the metals in SPM samples are in a 'safe range' with respect to the computed degree of contamination (DC < 2). The target hazard quotients (THQ) and the hazard index (HI) values indicate a risk level with Fe. However, the Cr measured in mussels is considered 'extreme', according to the consumption rate limit for mussels (CR_lim) which limits their consumption to 0.5 kg/day.

Keywords: Bioconcentration factor; Environmental monitoring; Health risk assessment; Metal bioavailability; Mytilus galloprovincialis.

MeSH terms

Animals
Bivalvia
Dietary Exposure / statistics & numerical data*
Ecosystem
Environmental Monitoring*
Humans
Metals / analysis*
Metals, Heavy
Risk Assessment
Trace Elements
Water Pollutants, Chemical / analysis*
Water Pollution, Chemical / statistics & numerical data

Substances

Metals
Metals, Heavy
Trace Elements
Water Pollutants, Chemical