Fractionation studies and bioaccumulation of cadmium, mercury and lead in two harbour areas

The Decision No. 2455/2001/EC of the European Parliament and Council established a list of harmful and priority substances whose release into the aquatic environment should be eliminated or progressively reduced. Evaluation of the accumulation of these substances in sediment and organisms tissues is an aid in the assessment of the aquatic environment. Total concentrations and the fractionation of selected metals (Cd, Pb and Hg) in four sediment samples taken from two Italian ports, and their accumulation in Mytilus galloprovincialis Lam. tissues were measured. The investigation reveals differences in the accumulation pattern of metals in the mussel tissues corresponding to sediments characterized by different metal mobility. The metal concentrations frequently have been found to be greater than quality standards for Italian marine sediments (Ministerial Decree no. 367/03). Lead and Cd are mainly associated with the mobile fraction of sediment and show greater bioaccumulation in mussel samples, whereas Hg is linked to non-mobile fraction and shows low bioaccumulation.