Biomonitoring Assessment of Toxic and Trace Elements in Sterechinus neumayeri Sea Urchins from the Comandante Ferraz Station in Antarctica

• Published in: Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology
• Main Authors: Alves, Mauricio Barlera, Emerenciano, Andrews Krupinski, da Costa Bordon, Isabella Cristina Antunes, Silva, José Roberto Machado Cunha, Fávaro, Deborah Inês Teixeira, Borges, João Carlos Shimada, Borges, Ricardo Moraes, Pinto, Joana Mona e, Rezende, Karina Fernandes Oliveira, Dzik, Luciana Machado
• Other Authors: Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP)
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: 2021
• Subjects: Antarctica; Biomonitoring; Environmental contamination; Sea urchin; Toxic and trace elements; Ferraz; Antarc*
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/11449/221945; https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-021-03307-3

In the present study, sea urchin Sterechinus neumayeri tissues were used for the passive biomonitoring of toxic and trace elements at the Comandante Ferraz Station, Antarctica and compared to a pristine region (Botany). As, Ba, Br, Ca, Co, Cr, Fe, K, Na, Rb, Sc, Se and Zn concentrations were determined by instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA), while toxic metals (Cd, Hg, Ni and Pb), and Cu were determined by atomic absorption spectrometry (GF-AAS). The findings were compared to other organisms commonly applied for biomonitoring purposes and to the sediment concentrations of each sampling region. Urchins from the Ferraz Station area presented higher Br, Co, Cr, Cs, K, Se and Zn levels than the pristine location. The results obtained herein suggest S. neumayeri can be applied to the biomonitoring of Cr and Zn. The present study also contributes to knowledge of the mineral composition of the sea urchin S. neumayeri.