Statistical characterisation of heavy metal contents in Paracentrotus lividus from Mediterranean Sea.
This work focuses on the estimation of Hg, As, Cr, Ni, Cu, V, Cd and Pb by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry in 135 adult specimens of Paracentrotus lividus collected in different coastal areas of Sicily (Gela, Punta Secca, Ragusa (RG), Siracusa, Priolo, Catania, Messina, Milazzo, Brolo and Filicudi), in order to monitor the Mediterranean marine ecosystem by use of sea urchin as bioindicator. Moreover, the paper deals with the statistical classification of the tested samples according to the sampling area based on metal concentrations. The descriptive statistics findings were obtained and, a starting multivariate matrix was built. Data-sets were subjected to Kruskal-Wallis test to verify the significance of differences in metal concentrations, and then a factor analysis with principal components extraction was performed to try to differentiate urchin samples collected in different areas. The results showed that P. lividus is a suitable organism to be used as bioindicator.
a Dipartimento di Scienze dell'Ambiente, della Sicurezza, del Territorio, degli Alimenti e della Salute (S.A.S.T.A.S.) , V.le F. Stagno d'Alcontres 31, 89166 Messina , Italy.
Andrea
A
Salvo
Angela Giorgia
AG
Potortì
Nicola
N
Cicero
Maurizio
M
Bruno
Vincenzo
V
Lo Turco
Giuseppa
G
Di Bella
Giacomo
G
Dugo
D000818:Animals; D001151:Arsenic / Q000032:analysis; D002104:Cadmium / Q000032:analysis; D002857:Chromium / Q000032:analysis; D003300:Copper / Q000032:analysis; D007854:Lead / Q000032:analysis; D008522:Mediterranean Sea; D008628:Mercury / Q000032:analysis; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis*; D009532:Nickel / Q000032:analysis; D047328:Paracentrotus / Q000737:chemistry*; D012802:Sicily; D014639:Vanadium / Q000032:analysis; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
D019216:Metals, Heavy; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D002104:Cadmium; D014639:Vanadium; D002857:Chromium; D007854:Lead; D003300:Copper; D009532:Nickel; D008628:Mercury; D001151:Arsenic
Mediterranean Sea; bioindicator; heavy metals; principal components analysis; sea urchin