Patterns of trace metal bioaccumulation and trophic transfer in a phytoplankton-zooplankton-small pelagic fish marine food web.

Trace metal contamination in the European sardine and anchovy food web was investigated in the Gulf of Lions, NW Mediterranean Sea, including seawater and size fractions of plankton. The results highlighted: i) higher and more variable concentrations in the smaller plankton size classes for all metals except cadmium; ii) higher concentrations in anchovy versus sardine for all elements except lead; iii) different patterns of metal bioaccumulation through the food web: cobalt, nickel, copper, silver, lead and zinc displayed continuously decreasing concentrations (with the exception of increased zinc in fish only), while mercury concentrations dropped considerably in larger plankton size classes and rose significantly in fish. Lastly, cadmium concentrations were found to be highest in intermediate plankton size classes, with very low levels in fish.

Platinum in sediments and mussels from the northwestern Mediterranean coast: Temporal and spatial aspects.

Platinum (Pt) is considered a Technology Critical Element (TCE) and an emerging metallic contaminant with increasing release into the environment. Gaps in knowledge and understanding of environmental levels, fate and effects of Pt still exist, especially in the marine environment. This work presents Pt concentrations in the northwestern Mediterranean coast including: (i) temporal variability from sediment cores and farmed mussels in the Toulon Bay (historically affected by intense human activities) and (ii) spatial distribution from recent wild mussels collected along ∼ 700 km coastline with contrasting ecosystems (including natural reserves), quantified using voltammetry and inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry.

Carbon and nitrogen elemental and isotopic ratios of filter-feeding bivalves along the French coasts: An assessment of specific, geographic, seasonal and multi-decadal variations.

Primary consumers play a key role in coastal ecosystems by transferring organic matter from primary producers to predators. Among them, suspension-feeders, like bivalve molluscs are widely used in trophic web studies. The main goal of this study was to investigate variations of C and N elemental and isotopic ratios in common bivalves (M.

Evidencing the Impact of Coastal Contaminated Sediments on Mussels Through Pb Stable Isotopes Composition.

Heavily contaminated sediments are a serious concern for ecosystem quality, especially in coastal areas, where vulnerability is high due to intense anthropogenic pressure. Surface sediments (54 stations), 50 cm interface cores (five specific stations), river particles, coal and bulk Pb plate from past French Navy activities, seawater and mussels were collected in Toulon Bay (NW Mediterranean Sea). Lead content and Pb stable isotope composition have evidenced the direct impact of sediment pollution stock on both the water column quality and the living organisms, through the specific Pb isotopic signature in these considered compartments.

210Po and 210Pb trophic transfer within the phytoplankton-zooplankton-anchovy/sardine food web: a case study from the Gulf of Lion (NW Mediterranean Sea).

The transfer of (210)Po and (210)Pb in the food web of small pelagic fishes (from phytoplankton and zooplankton to anchovy Engraulis encrasicolus and sardine Sardina pilchardus) is investigated in the Gulf of Lion (GoL). We present original data of (210)Po and (210)Pb activity concentrations, C and N stable isotope ratios, measured (i) from different size classes of phytoplankton and zooplankton during spring and winter in different environments of the GoL, and (ii) in two fish species. Significant spatial patterns based on (210)Po, (210)Pb activity concentrations and (210)Po/(210)Pb ratios in the different plankton size classes are evidenced by hierarchical clustering, both in spring and winter.

Assessment of heavy metal and organic contaminants levels along the Libyan coast using transplanted mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis).

Within the framework of the MYTIOR project in 2009, heavy metals and organic compounds contaminations were assessed in transplanted mussels in 16 different stations along the coasts of Libya. These stations were located at miles offshore industrial/urban sources but in open sea providing original results related to the background contamination rather than linked to a specific coastal source of pollutants. Results indicated mercury (Hg, 0.

Long-term records of cadmium and silver contamination in sediments and oysters from the Gironde fluvial-estuarine continuum - evidence of changing silver sources.

The Gironde fluvial estuarine system is impacted by historic metal pollution (e.g. Cd, Zn, Hg) and oysters (Crassostrea gigas) from the estuary mouth have shown extremely high Cd concentrations for decades.

Trace metal concentrations in the North-western Mediterranean atmospheric aerosol between 1986 and 2008: seasonal patterns and decadal trends.

Climatic and anthropogenic changes are able to engender modifications in the aerosol composition at different geographical and temporal scales. The present study addresses this question for the trace metal concentrations (TM=Al, Fe, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Pb, Cd and Zn) of aerosol from the North-western Mediterranean coast of France (Cap Ferrat, nearby Nice) between 1986 and 2008. From seasonal variations (2006-08) and decadal trends (1986-2008) of TM concentrations, three groups of elements can be distinguished.

Seasonal and decadal variations in lead sources to eastern North Atlantic mussels.

The concentration of Pb and its stable isotope composition were measured in 216 composite samples of 50 blue mussels (Mytilus edulis (M. edulis)) collected quarterly between 1985 and 2005 at three sites along the French Atlantic coast, one in the La Fresnaye Bay and the others in the Loire and Seine River estuaries. Depending on the sites and time periods, Pb concentrations were 5-66 times higher than the natural background value for the North Atlantic.

First record of butyltin body burden and imposex status in Hexaplex trunculus (L.) along the Tunisian coast.

We have assessed for the first time the current status of tributyltin (TBT) contamination in Hexaplex trunculus along Tunisian coastal waters. Two sampling campaigns have been performed in July 2004 and July 2007 at seven different sites. The snails were analyzed for imposex status, i.

Changes in the sediment trace metal contamination after the commissioning of a municipal wastewater treatment plant in the Souss estuary (South Morocco).

Monthly samples of sediment were collected from the Souss estuary, to determine the changes which have occurred in the concentrations of ten metals between 2001 when the low estuary was receiving the wastewaters from Agadir city and 2003 after stopping the sewage dumping. The annual contents of Cu, Fe, Zn (in 2001) and those of Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn (in 2003) showed significant correlations with those of Al, indicating that fluctuations of their concentrations were only due to those of the aluminosilicate fraction of the clayey sediment. After normalization of these metallic concentrations in relation to those of Al, the contents of the different metals showed insignificant correlations between both years, except for Zn which significantly dropped in 2003 and Cu which increased in 2003.

Monitoring of trace metal contamination in the Souss Estuary (South Morocco) using the clams Cerastoderma edule and Scrobicularia plana.

Concentrations of seven metals (Cd, Cu, Cr, Pb, Ni, Zn, Hg) were monitored monthly during 2 years in two bivalves, Cerastoderma edule and Scrobicularia plana collected from the Souss Estuary (South Morocco) before and after the commissioning of a sewage treatment plant in November 2002. According to trace metals, changes in concentrations were observed mainly in S. plana, characterised by a decrease of Cu, Hg and Pb when Cd was clearly increasing.