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

Abstract

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, 0.045-0.066 mg/kg dry weight (dw)), lead (Pb, 0.44-0, 71 mg/kg dw) and copper (Cu, 3.56-4.21 mg/kg dw) were in the same range or at lower value than control for all stations. Chromium (Cr) in Meleta (3.08 mg/kg dw) and Bomba (3.80 mg/kg dw) and Cadmium values in all stations (1.21-2.41 mg/kg dw) were above control. Meleta, stations from the gulf of Syrt and the three eastern stations were the most affected stations by nickel (max at 5.83 mg/kg dw in Syrt) when zinc was in the same range (141-197 mg/kg dw) and above the control (92 mg/kg dw) at all stations. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) levels were found in the range of 16.8-42.8 mg/kg (dry weight) indicating low levels along the Libyan coast with acenaphthene and benzo (a, b, k) pyrenes detected mainly in western Libya. The study of PAH ratios indicated a mixed petrogenic/pyrolytic origin. The only polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) found in Libya were PCB 101 in one location and PCB 153 in Tripoli, Garrapoli, Syrt, Ras Lanuf and Benghazi (1.2-1.9 μg/kg dw). Insecticides were lower than control in all stations except DDT, only detected in Misratah (3.5 μg/kg dw). Overall, the results indicated a low background contamination and a low pollution extent according to the environmental pressure occurring offshore the Libyan coast.

Chromium (VI) Adsorption Characteristics of Bentonite Under Different Modification Patterns

“…Development of methods to dispose and remediate heavy metal pollution was an extremely urgent endeavor [1]. Previous studies showed that clays could be easily modifi ed [2], and that TOC (total organic carbon) content [3], interlayer spacing [4], surface hydrophobicity [5,6], and adsorption ability of organic contaminants and heavy metal salt ions [7][8][9] on the modifi ed clays were proven to increase signifi cantly.…”

The abundance and speciation of mercury in the Adriatic plankton, bivalves and fish – a review

“…Since this project was conducted in 1970s, several other projects (e.g. MYTILOS and MYTIOR) have been established to assess the state of trace metal contamination in the marine environment GALGANI et al, 2014). Recent data show that THg values in mussels are slightly, but significantly lower (Kruskal-Wallis, P < 0.01) in the Mediterranean Sea than in the Adriatic Sea and Atlantic Ocean (Fig.…”

“…Comparison of THg concentrations in mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) from different world seas. Data from: BENEDICTO et al, 2011;BILANDŽIĆ et al, 2016;BRIANT et al, 2017;CASTELLANI et al, 2015;CHEN et al, 2009;CLAISSE et al, 2001;CUBADDA et al, 2006;CULLAJ et al, 2006;FABBRI et al, 2006;FATTORINI et al, 2008;GALGANI et al, 2014;GORBI et al, 2008;KLJAKOVIĆ-GAŠPIĆ et al, 2006;KWON et al, 2014;LOCATELLI, 2003;LOCATELLI & MELUCCI, 2010;MARKOVIĆ et al, 2012;MOSCHINO et al, 2016;MZOUGHI & CHO-UBA, 2012;SPADA et al, 2013;STANKOVIĆ et al, 2011;TSANGARIS et al, 2013. Fig.…”

Updated checklist of bony fishes along the Libyan coasts (Southern Mediterranean Sea)

“…Among all Mediterranean countries, Libya provides one of the largest, more interesting and less-studied marine areas of the basin (Coll et al, 2010;. The approximately 2000 km of coastline is characterized by low levels of anthropogenic pressure (Badalamenti et al, 2011), relatively little contamination (Galgani et al, 2014) and an increasing number of new species that are conquering these waters as well as other sectors of the eastern Mediterranean Sea (Bariche, 2012;Golani et al, 2017;Elbaraasi et al, 2013).…”