Monitoring chemical contamination levels in the Mediterranean based on the use of mussel caging

Within the framework of the biointegrator network (RINBIO), 92 man-made cages containing mussels ( Mytilus galloprovincialis), distributed over 1800 km of the French Mediterranean coast, made it possible to assess chemical contamination by heavy metals (Cd, Hg, Zn, Pb, Cu, Ni, Cr, As) and organic co...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Marine pollution bulletin 2004-11, Vol.49 (9), p.704-712
Main Authors: Andral, Bruno, Stanisiere, Jean Yves, Sauzade, Didier, Damier, Elodie, Thebault, Hervé, Galgani, François, Boissery, Pierre
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal, plant and microbial ecology
Animals
Applied ecology
Biological and medical sciences
Biomonitoring
Bivalvia
Caging
Contamination
Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution
Environmental Monitoring - methods
Food Chain
France
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Marine
Marine and brackish environment
Mediterranean sea
Metals, Heavy - analysis
Mytilus galloprovincialis
Reproducibility of Results
Tissue Distribution
Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis
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Summary:Within the framework of the biointegrator network (RINBIO), 92 man-made cages containing mussels ( Mytilus galloprovincialis), distributed over 1800 km of the French Mediterranean coast, made it possible to assess chemical contamination by heavy metals (Cd, Hg, Zn, Pb, Cu, Ni, Cr, As) and organic compounds (DDT, PCBs, HAP). The caging technique was adopted to compensate for the scarcity of natural shellfish stocks in the Mediterranean and to enable comparison of the sites regardless of their physicochemical and trophic characteristics. Models linking a biometric parameter (the condition index) to pollutant levels make it possible to adjust raw data on contamination for a reference individual, by making a clear distinction between physiological factors (growth) and environmental ones. The results demonstrate significant levels of pollutants in sites heretofore unsampled; the pollution occurs at limited areas, and the sources have been identified. Moreover, average contamination levels are comparable to those measured in wild species and in other areas. Overall, the research demonstrates the reliability of this methodological approach for monitoring marine pollution, especially in the Mediterranean.
ISSN:0025-326X
1879-3363
DOI:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2004.05.008