Trace Metals in Noah’s Ark Shells (Arca noae Linnaeus, 1758): Impact of Tourist Season and Human Health Risk

Abstract

Commercially important bivalve Noah's Ark shell (Arca noae Linnaeus, 1758) represents a high-quality seafood product, but the data on levels of metal contaminants that could pose a human health risk and also on some essential elements that are important for health protection are lacking. This study examineds the concentrations of Cd, Pb, Cr, Ni, Cu, Co, and Zn in the mg/kg wet weight. These levels were lower than the permissible limits for safe consummation of seafood, and only for Cd, some precautions should be taken into account if older shellfish were consumed. Increase of Cd, Cr, and Cu in shell tissue was observed during the tourist season at the site closest to the marine traffic routes, indicating that metal levels in shellfish tissue should be monitored especially carefully monitored during the peak tourist season, to prevent eventual toxic effects due to increased intake of metals, specifically of Cd.

Trace elements and oxidative stress in the Ark shell Arca noae from a Mediterranean coastal lagoon (Bizerte lagoon, Tunisia): are there health risks associated with their consumption?

“…Comparing our results with those reported for A. noae from the Croatian (Cuculic´et al 2010, Ivankovic et al 2016, Milun et al 2016, Erk et al 2018 and Yugoslav Adriatic coasts (Ozretic´et al 1990), Zn, Cu, Ni, Cr, Pb, Cd, Fe, Mn, Se and Al concentrations were within the same range of concentrations (Table 5). Concentrations of these TE in A. noae flesh were similar to lower when compared with other bivalves from Bizerte lagoon, Tunisian and Mediterranean coasts (Kamel et al 2014;Richir and Gobert 2014;Boussoufa et al 2014;Joksimovic et al 2018;Prato et al 2019;Uluturhan et al 2019) (Table 5).…”

“…Recent studies on A. noae from the eastern and central Adriatic coasts (Croatia) have shown that this shellfish may accumulate various trace elements, polychlorinated biphenyls and organochlorine pesticides (Ivankovic et al 2016;Milun et al 2016;Erk et al 2018). Marine bivalves are known to pump large amounts of seawater and therefore come into contact with various chemicals in the water.…”

Changes in the tissue concentrations of trace elements during the reproductive cycle of Noah's Ark shells (Arca noae Linnaeus, 1758)

“…With regard to the differences in the yearly medians of TEs concentrations in A. noae between two sampling sites (Table 2), we can relate higher Ni concentration at NP site to a slightly increased Ni concentrations in sediments that were previously found at that site (Ivanković et al, 2016). It was probably related to the boating activities and leaching from the chromate coated parts of boats and yachts, as it was already observed by Mihelčić et al (2010) at the anchorage points in NP aquatorium, which is visited by organised tourist boats as well as by individual nautical vessels.…”

“…sinusoidal curve) suggested by Borchardt et al (1988), while at the PC site its levels were similar in both reproductive periods. Thus, the absence of typical seasonal variations for Pb on PC location may be attributed to the higher anthropogenic availability of Pb on this location (Ivanković et al 2016). Additionally, the presence of sharp peaks noticed for some TEs (Al, Cs and Ti in September 2103, November 2013 and January 2014, Fig.…”

Metabolomic and proteomic changes induced by growth inhibitory concentrations of copper in the biofilm-forming marine bacteriumPseudoalteromonas lipolytica

“…13 Therefore, an increase of Cu content related to the close proximity of marine traffic routes and the peak tourist period was observed in a commercially important bivalve. 14 In marine environments, Cu chemical speciation is known to be strongly controlled by dissolved organic ligands which significantly reduce the Cu bioavailable fraction (and consequently its toxicity) in unpolluted environments such as open seas. 15 However, the buffering capacity of organic ligands can be outreached in Cu contaminated environments, amplifying the impact of this pollutant on marine organisms.…”