title: Decrease of Zn, Cd and Pb concentrations in marine fish species over a decade as response to reduction of anthropogenic inputs: the example of Tagus estuary.
abstract: Concentrations of Zn, Cd and Pb were measured in muscle of pelagic, demersal and benthic fishes, captured in the coastal area adjoining the Tagus estuary (Portugal), in 1998 and 2010. Additionally, Pb and Cd were determined in estuarine waters, showing a pronounced decrease between 1999 and 2010. Accordingly, specimens captured in 2010 presented significantly lower metal concentrations than individuals caught in 1998. Reductions were more evident for Pb (reduction of 59-99%) than for Cd (14-93%) and Zn (17-54%). Values in pelagic and demersal species exhibited higher reductions than in benthic species. Decrease of metal concentrations in fish appears thus to reflect the improvement of estuarine water quality as anthropogenic sources have been reduced or eliminated. Furthermore, it emphasises the usefulness of the descriptor "Contaminants in Fish" to assess the efficiency of measures to achieve a good environmental status, in the scope of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive.
authors: IPIMAR - National Institute of Biological Resources, Av. Brasília, 1449-006 Lisbon, Portugal. jraimundo@ipimar.pt
authors: Joana
authors: J
authors: Raimundo
authors: Patrícia
authors: P
authors: Pereira
authors: Miguel
authors: M
authors: Caetano
authors: Maria Teresa
authors: MT
authors: Cabrita
authors: Carlos
authors: C
authors: Vale
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002104:Cadmium / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D058735:Environmental Policy; D005062:European Union; D005399:Fishes / Q000378:metabolism*; D007854:Lead / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000187:drug effects; D011174:Portugal; D012621:Seasons; D012623:Seawater / Q000737:chemistry; D013045:Species Specificity; D013054:Spectrophotometry, Atomic / Q000662:veterinary; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D060753:Water Quality; D015032:Zinc / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D002104:Cadmium; D007854:Lead; D015032:Zinc