Study of metals concentration levels in Patella piperata throughout the Canary Islands, Spain.
In order to assess the extent of metal contamination at rocky shores of the Canarian Archipelago, metal concentrations have been measured in Patella piperata (Gould, 1846), using the standard atomic absorption spectrophotometer technique. Ranges of elements concentrations measured (in microg g(-1)) found in the biota were: Cd (0.36 +/- 0.26 microg g(-1) dry wt.), Cu (2.05 +/- 0.91 dry wt.), Pb (1.57 +/- 1.14 microg g(-1)dry wt.) and Zn (10.37 +/- 4.60 microg g(-1) dry wt.). Variation in metal concentrations in Patella, was tested by using non-parametric statistical methods. Cd content had a maximum in the Archipelago Chinijo, northward of Lanzarote Island. The metal concentrations recorded at the clean stations may be considered carefully if they are used like background levels.
Bergasa
Oscar
O
Department of Chemistry, BIOGES. Faculty of Marine Science, University of Las Palmas de G.C. Campus de Tafira, s/n. CP: 35017. Las Palmas de G.C., Canary Islands, Spain. obergasa@acciones.ulpgc.es
Ramírez
Rubén
R
Collado
Cayetano
C
Hernández-Brito
J Joaquín
JJ
Gelado-Caballero
María Dolores
MD
Rodríguez-Somozas
María
M
Haroun
Ricardo J
RJ
D000818:Animals; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis*; D008974:Mollusca; D013030:Spain; D013054:Spectrophotometry, Atomic
D019216:Metals, Heavy