Heavy metals in sediments and soft tissues of the Antarctic clam Laternula elliptica: More evidence as a ? Possible biomonitor of coastal marine pollution at high latitudes?

• Published in: Science of The Total Environment
• Main Authors: Vodopivez, Leopoldo Cristian, Curtosi, Antonio, Villaamil Lepori, Edda Cristina, Smichowski, Patricia Nora, Pelletier, Emilien, Mac Cormack, Walter Patricio
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Antarctic Clam; Biomonitoring; Marine Sediments; Metal Pollution; Potter Cove; https://purl.org/becyt/ford/1.5; https://purl.org/becyt/ford/1; 25 de Mayo; Antarctic; Argentina; Argentino; Carlini Station; The Antarctic; Antarc*; Antarctica; Dirección Nacional del Antártico; Instituto Antártico Argentino
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/11336/37483

Studies on metal contamination in 25 de Mayo Island, Antarctica, yielded controversial results. In this work, we analyzed Antarctic marine sediments and Antarctic clam (Laternula elliptica) tissues to investigate the possible use of this mollusk as a biomonitor of metals and to identify the sources of metal pollution. Different types of paint from several buildings from Carlini Station were examined to assess their contribution to the local and random metal pollution. Five sediment samples, 105 L. elliptica specimens (40.2-78.0mm length) and four types of paint were analyzed to quantify Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Pb and Zn using inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry. Metal concentrations in sediments were lower than the global averages of the earth's crust, with the exception of Cd and Cu. These results were related to the contribution of the local fresh-water runoff. The different varieties of paint showed low levels of Cu, Mn, Fe and Zn, whereas a broad range of values were found in the case of Cr and Pb (20-15,100μg·g-1 and 153-115,500μg·g-1 respectively). The remains of the paint would be responsible for the significant increases in Cr and Pb which are randomly detected by us and by other authors. High levels of Fe and Cd, in comparison to other Antarctic areas, appear to be related to the terrigenous materials transported by the local streams. Accumulation indexes suggested that kidney tissue from L. elliptica could be an adequate material for biomonitoring pollution with Cd, Zn and probably also Pb. In general, relationships between size and metal contents reported by other authors were not verified, suggesting that this issue should be revised. elliptica could be adequate for biomonitoring pollution with Cd and Zn. Fil: Vodopivez, Leopoldo Cristian. Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores, Comercio Interno y Culto. Dirección Nacional del Antártico. Instituto Antártico Argentino; Argentina Fil: Curtosi, Antonio. Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores, Comercio Interno y Culto. Dirección Nacional ...