Accumulation of toxic metals (Pb and Cd) in the sea urchin Diadema aff. antillarum Philippi, 1845, in an oceanic island (Tenerife, Canary Islands).
This document shows the results obtained from a study on the concentration of toxic heavy metals in the internal tissue and exoskeleton of sea urchins, collected from their natural habitat. The levels of lead and cadmium were measured by Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectrometry. The mean concentrations of lead and cadmium in the internal tissue were 304.04 and 260.54 microg/kg respectively, whereas in the shell they were 185.02 and 142.48 microg/kg. We also performed a statistical analysis of the differences in the distribution of metals between their exoskeleton and their internal content, a correlation study of the metal content in internal tissue and shell and sampling areas, and a correlation study between the metal content and sample size. Since the sea urchin Diadema antillarum presents a wide range of variation in metal content, this study suggests that this species is an excellent bioindicator of heavy metal contamination.
Hernández
Ofelia Dolores
OD
Department of Public Health and Toxicology, University of La Laguna, La Laguna, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain.
Gutiérrez
Angel José
AJ
González-Weller
Dailos
D
Lozano
Gonzalo
G
Melón
Enrique García
EG
Rubio
Carmen
C
Hardisson
Arturo
A
D000818:Animals; D001267:Atlantic Ocean; D002104:Cadmium / Q000032:analysis* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000633:toxicity; D017753:Ecosystem; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D007854:Lead / Q000032:analysis* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000633:toxicity; D012617:Sea Urchins / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D013030:Spain; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000633:toxicity
D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D002104:Cadmium; D007854:Lead