title: Toxic elements and speciation in seafood samples from different contaminated sites in Europe.
abstract: The presence of cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), mercury (THg), methylmercury (MeHg), arsenic (TAs), inorganic arsenic (iAs), cobalt (Co), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), nickel (Ni), chromium (Cr) and iron (Fe) was investigated in seafood collected from European marine ecosystems subjected to strong anthropogenic pressure, i.e. hotspot areas. Different species (Mytilus galloprovincialis, n=50; Chamelea gallina, n=50; Liza aurata, n=25; Platichthys flesus, n=25; Laminaria digitata, n=15; and Saccharina latissima, n=15) sampled in Tagus estuary, Po delta, Ebro delta, western Scheldt, and in the vicinities of a fish farm area (Solund, Norway), between September and December 2013, were selected to assess metal contamination and potential risks to seafood consumers, as well as to determine the suitability of ecologically distinct organisms as bioindicators in environmental monitoring studies. Species exhibited different elemental profiles, likely as a result of their ecological strategies, metabolism and levels in the environment (i.e. seawater and sediments). Higher levels of Cd (0.15-0.94 mg kg(-1)), Pb (0.37-0.89 mg kg(-1)), Co (0.48-1.1 mg kg(-1)), Cu (4.8-8.4 mg kg(-1)), Zn (75-153 mg kg(-1)), Cr (1.0-4.5 mg kg(-1)) and Fe (283-930 mg kg(-1)) were detected in bivalve species, particularly in M. galloprovincialis from Ebro and Po deltas, whereas the highest content of Hg was found in P. flesus (0.86 mg kg(-1)). In fish species, most Hg was organic (MeHg; from 69 to 79%), whereas lower proportions of MeHg were encountered in bivalve species (between 20 and 43%). The highest levels of As were found in macroalgae species L. digitata and S. latissima (41 mg kg(-1) and 43 mg kg(-1), respectively), with iAs accounting almost 50% of the total As content in L. digitata but not with S. latissima nor in the remaining seafood samples. This work highlights that the selection of the most appropriate bioindicator species is a fundamental step in environmental monitoring of each contaminant, especially in coastal areas. Furthermore, data clearly shows that the current risk assessment and legislation solely based on total As or Hg data is limiting, as elemental speciation greatly varies according to seafood species, thus playing a key role in human exposure assessment via food.
authors.affiliation: Division of Aquaculture and Upgrading (DivAV), Portuguese Institute for the Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA, I.P.), Avenida de Brasília, 1449-006 Lisbon, Portugal; Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research (CIIMAR), University of Porto, Rua das Bragas, 289, 4050-123 Porto, Portugal; MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisbon (FCUL), Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal. Electronic address: aluisa@ipma.pt.
authors.forename: Ana Luísa
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Maulvault
authors.affiliation: Division of Aquaculture and Upgrading (DivAV), Portuguese Institute for the Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA, I.P.), Avenida de Brasília, 1449-006 Lisbon, Portugal; Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research (CIIMAR), University of Porto, Rua das Bragas, 289, 4050-123 Porto, Portugal; MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisbon (FCUL), Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal.
authors.forename: Patrícia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Anacleto
authors.affiliation: Division of Aquaculture and Upgrading (DivAV), Portuguese Institute for the Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA, I.P.), Avenida de Brasília, 1449-006 Lisbon, Portugal.
authors.forename: Vera
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Barbosa
authors.affiliation: National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Mørkhøj Bygade 19, DK-2860 Søborg, Denmark.
authors.forename: Jens J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Sloth
authors.affiliation: National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Mørkhøj Bygade 19, DK-2860 Søborg, Denmark.
authors.forename: Rie Romme
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Rasmussen
authors.affiliation: Aeiforia Srl, 29027 Gariga di Podenzano (PC), Italy.
authors.forename: Alice
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tediosi
authors.affiliation: Marine Monitoring, Institute of Agriculture and Food Research & Technology (IRTA), Sant Carles de la Ràpita, Tarragona, Spain.
authors.forename: Margarita
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fernandez-Tejedor
authors.affiliation: Hortimare, Projects and Consultancy, J. Duikerweg 12B, 1703 DH Heerhugowaard, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Fredericus H M
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: van den Heuvel
authors.affiliation: IMARES, Wageningen UR, PO Box 68, 1970 AB Ijmuiden, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Michiel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kotterman
authors.affiliation: Division of Aquaculture and Upgrading (DivAV), Portuguese Institute for the Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA, I.P.), Avenida de Brasília, 1449-006 Lisbon, Portugal; Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research (CIIMAR), University of Porto, Rua das Bragas, 289, 4050-123 Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: António
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Marques
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001152:Arsenicals / Q000032:analysis; D049872:Bivalvia / Q000737:chemistry; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D005060:Europe; D005399:Fishes / Q000378:metabolism; D020387:Food Chain; D057230:Limit of Detection; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D008767:Methylmercury Compounds / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity; D017747:Seafood / Q000032:analysis* / Q000592:standards; D012624:Seaweed / Q000737:chemistry; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity
chemical_list: D001152:Arsenicals; D019216:Metals, Heavy; D008767:Methylmercury Compounds; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
keywords: Arsenic speciation; European estuaries; Hotspots; Mercury speciation; Seafood; Toxic elements