Heavy Metals Concentrations in Fish from Sicily (Mediterranean Sea) and Evaluation of Possible Health Risks to Consumers

Cadmium, lead, mercury and chromium concentrations in fish muscle tissue taken from various Sicilian areas were detected. Fish caught in Siracusa, nearby a petrochemical industrial area, were more contaminated by cadmium, lead and chromium (respectively 0.366, 0.32, 0.72 μg/g) than those from the other sites. In the Sicily Channel, we found the highest bioaccumulation of mercury (0.31 μg/g). Although some metals concentrations exceed the limits set by the European regulation, the estimated weekly intake was below the Provisional Tolerable Weekly Intake established by the European Food and Safety Authority, and the Target Hazard Quotient values indicate that there is no carcinogenic risk for humans

Distribution of heavy metals in the surficial sediments of Izmir Bay (Turkey)

The distribution of heavy metals (Hg, Cd, Pb, Cr, Zn, Cu, Ni, Mn) were investigated in surficial sediments of Izmir Bay. The data were collected during cruises in July 1997 and January 1998, in the framework of a Izmir Bay Marine Research Project supported by Izmir Metropolitan Municipality. Heavy metal concentrations in the sediment samples showed significant enrichments during sampling periods from Inner Bay. Outer and Middle Bays show low levels of heavy metal enrichments except mouth of Gediz River. Gediz is the major source of anthropogenic input into the Outer Bay

Monitoring metal contamination levels and fecal pollution in clam (Tapes decussatus) collected from Izmir Bay (Turkey)

The aim of this study was to monitor the heavy metal contents and fecal pollution in Tapes decussatus (carpet shell clam) from Izmir Bay (Eastern Aegean). Bivalve mollusks were sampled on January, March, July, and October 2007 in the Izmir Bay. Izmir Bay is one of the great natural bays of the Mediterranean. Concentrations of heavy metals were determined in the clams from the different seasons. Fecal coliform densities were determined to evaluate the degree of water pollution and clams' microbiological accumulation of the classical microbial pollution indicators. The concentration of heavy metals in T. decussatus from Izmir Bay were Hg 0.044-0.13; Cd 0.026-0.24; Pb 0.38-1.2; Cr 2.3-3.7; Cu 6.4-8.4; Zn 56.0-81.8, and Ni 8.1-9.6 mu g/g (dry weight). The maximum values were generally obtained in July and March except Ni. This study found that the levels of heavy metals except Cr in T. decussatus were below Spanish and European Communities legislations for shellfish as food. Microbial pollution indicators (heterotrophic bacteria and fecal coliform) were measured in T. decussatus. Maximum heterotrophic bacteria and fecal coliforms were recorded in the winter while the lowest were detected in summer

Multivariate analysis of water quality parameters in Izmir Bay, Eastern Aegean

Results of Dissolved Oxygen(DO). Temperature, Salinity, Turbidity, Suspended Material(SM), Total Inorganic Nitrogen and Total Phosphorus in sea water sampled in the Izmir Bay were processed using two mathematical statistical methods. "Principal Component" analysis and "Cluster" analysis were combined to assess the degree of contamination in different parts of the Izmir Bay, to determine the sources and to trace the diffusion paths. The eigen values of the first three Principal Component(PC) accounted for 96 8% of the total variance. The composition of the first PC includes the positive contribution of DO, salinity and the negative contribution of suspended material, turbidity, total inorganic nitrogen and total phosphorus. The second PC explains temperature and accounts for 9.089% of total variability. A third PC isolates total nitrogen and suspended material Cluster analysis helped to classify the sampling stations and identify the sources of pollution. The eastern coasts of the bay are intensely polluted compared to the western part of the Izmir Bay due to industrial and domestic wastes

Composition and distribution of organochlorine pesticide residues in surface sediments from Gediz and Bakircay Rivers (Eastern Aegean)

The contamination of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in sediments from Gediz and Bakirgay Rivers were investigated to evaluate the pollution potentials and distribution of OCPs in Western Turkey. In the selected rivers, the rapidly developing industrial and agricultural activities, municipal development and use of chemicals caused serious environmental problems. Surface sediments were sampled in January (rainy season) and July 2004 (dry season) at sampling stations from Gediz and Bakirgay Rivers. The concentrations of OCPs, by high resolution gas chromatography-electron capture detector, were detected in the sediment samples from the rivers that flow into the Aegean Sea. The concentration of organochlorine pesticides in surficial sediments from Gediz River were 0.88-47.4 ng g(-1)dw for Sigma DDTs (4.4'-DDT+ 4,4'-DDE+ 4,4'-DDD); 0.04-2.0 for Sigma. HCHs (alpha-, beta-, gamma-, delta-HCH) and 0.34-7.5 ng g(-1)dw for Sigma cyclodienes. Results showed that the concentrations of pesticides in sediments were in the range of 3.2-45.9 ng g(-1)dw for Sigma DDT; 0.43-2.0 ng g(-1)dw for Sigma HCH and 0.78-8.6 ng g(-1)dw for Sigma cyclodienes in Bakircay River. Among the OCPs, 4,4'-DDE was the most dominant compound in the Gediz and Bakirgay River sediments during rainy and dry seasons. In this study, the ratios of DDD+DDE/Sigma DDT and DDD/DDE were used to indicate the most probable source of contamination. The result of these ratios showed that most of the OCP contamination comes from the weathered agricultural areas. The ratios of DDD/DDE for the sediment samples were smaller than unity. This means that DDE was the most frequent OCP in the river sediments

Heavy metal contaminants in Red Pandora (Pagellus erythrinus) tissues from the Eastern Aegean Sea, Turkey

Heavy metal contents were investigated in different organ tissues of Red Pandora (Pagellus erythrinus) from the eastern Aegean Sea between May 1996 and July 1998. The concentrations of mercury in the muscle tissue ranged between 16 and 716, in liver 125-5451, in gonad 2.0-1858; cadmium in muscle nd-9.6, in liver 1.4-2245, in gonad nd-192; lead in muscle nd-1397, in liver 112-8311, in gonad nd-2927; zinc in muscle 1352-6693, in liver 2710-78705, in gonad 7273-168655; copper in muscle nd-383, in liver nd-21986, in gonad nd-20499 (mu g/kg wet weight). The highest concentrations were generally found in the Southern Aegean Sea. All metal levels in muscle tissues are lower than the limits of European Dietary Standards and Guidelines. The metals ratios between liver and muscle indicated that the liver accumulated higher levels of metals than the muscle tissues. The bioaccumulation factor (BAFs) of metals was measured in muscle, liver and gonads. BAFs among the analysed elements showed the descending orders as Zn > Cu > Cd > Pb for muscle and gonads and Cd > Zn > Cu > Pb for liver. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Trace metal distribution in different chemical fractions of marine sediments along the eastern Aegean shelf

The major objective of this study was to carry out sequential chemical extraction for the partitioning of particulate trace metals in sediment samples, collected along the eastern Aegean shelf during cruises July-August 1994, in the framework of a National Marine Measurement and Monitoring Programme for the Aegean Sea. Five metals, Cd, Pb, Cu, Zn and Cr were examined in each of sediment samples. Three chemical fractions of the sediments were separated and concentrations of the trace metals were determined by AAS techniques. The three different leaches used were hydroxylamine hydrochloride-acetic acid, hydrogen peroxide and nitric-perchloric acids. Metals were concentrated mainly in the fraction extracted by nitric-perchloric acids. Lead in the first fraction were found in the sediments of Northern part of Aegean, where the concentration of organic material was high. The total concentrations of Cd, Cu, Zn, Cr were higher in Izmir Bay than the other sampling points. The distribution of Pb concentrations was the highest in Edremit Bay and Izmir Bay. The major objective of this study was to carry out sequential chemical extraction for the partitioning of particulate trace metals in sediment samples, collected along the eastern Aegean shelf during cruises July-August 1994, in the framework of a National Marine Measurement and Monitoring Programme for the Aegean Sea. Five metals, Cd, Pb, Cu, Zn and Cr were examined in each of sediment samples. Three chemical fractions of the sediments were separated and concentrations of the trace metals were determined by AAS techniques. The three different leaches used were hydroxylamine hydrochloride-acetic acid, hydrogen peroxide and nitric-perchloric acids. Metals were concentrated mainly in the fraction extracted by nitric-perchloric acids. Lead in the first fraction were found in the sediments of Northern part of Aegean, where the concentration of organic material was high. The total concentrations of Cd, Cu, Zn, Cr were higher in Izmir Bay than the other sampling points. The distribution of Pb concentrations was the highest in Edremit Bay and Izmir Bay