Title: Metals and metalloids in mussels from the Argentine Patagonia

Authors: Adriana Ángela Pérez; María Angélica Fajardo; Silvia Sara Farías; Analía Mabel Strobl; Silvina Camarda; Betiana Garrido; Fiorella Alassia

Addresses: Cátedra de Toxicología, Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia San Juan Bosco, Chubut, 9005, Argentina ' Cátedra de Bromatología y Nutrición Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia San Juan Bosco, Chubut, 9005, Argentina ' Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica, Gerencia de Tecnología y Medio Ambiente, Buenos Aires, B1650LWP, Argentina ' Cátedra de Toxicología Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia San Juan Bosco, Chubut, 9005, Argentina ' Cátedra de Toxicología Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia San Juan Bosco, Chubut, 9005, Argentina ' Cátedra de Bromatología y Nutrición Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia San Juan Bosco, Chubut, 9005, Argentina ' Cátedra de Bromatología y Nutrición Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia San Juan Bosco, Chubut, 9005, Argentina

Abstract: Mussels are bioaccumulative organisms that are used to monitor marine environments. The levels of 19 metals and metalloids were determined in Mytilus edulis platensis in three sites of the San Jorge Gulf: Bahía Solano (BS), Punta Maqueda (PM) and Km 3 (KM3). The limit values of contaminants As: 16; Cd: 3.7; Cu: 10; Ni: 3.4; Pb: 3.2 and Zn: 200, in μg/g dry weight, were not reached in the sampling sites, except for Cd in PM. The principal component analysis (PCA) showed a relationship between PM and high levels of Cd, between KM3 and high levels of Al, Cu, Pb and Zn, and between BS and high levels of Be, B, Sr and Ag. These results have contributed to the establishment of the state of situation in the spring of 2010 for 19 elements, which could be used in future studies of monitoring and assessment of the environmental risk owing to metal and metalloid contamination in the coasts of Argentine Patagonia.

Keywords: mytilus edulis; heavy metals; bioaccumulation; San Jorge Gulf.

DOI: 10.1504/IJENVH.2017.088117

International Journal of Environment and Health, 2017 Vol.8 No.4, pp.290 - 301

Received: 05 Aug 2016
Accepted: 14 Feb 2017

Published online: 24 Nov 2017 *

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