title: Elemental profiling of Noah's Ark shell (Arca noae, Linnaeus, 1758) by plasma optical spectrometry and chemometric tools.
abstract: Determination of metal content in biominerals provides essential information with respect to relations between biomineralization processes and environmental status. Mussels are species that have a great potential as bio-marker species and therefore, they are in the focus of numerous biomineralization and ecological studies. In this study, elemental profile of mussel shell of Noah's Ark (Arca noe, Linnaeus, 1758), which inhabit eastern Adriatic Sea was obtained by determination of seventeen elements content using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). Shell samples were collected from marine protected area and from marine shipping route in eastern Adriatic Sea. The accuracy of applied analytical procedure based on microwave decomposition of shell samples was tested by use of reference materials of limestone and by matrix-matched standards. By aid of chemometric methods, the elemental profile along with variability of elements content of shell was obtained. The impact of different environment on elements content was established by use of multivariate statistical PCA method. Discernment between two groups of samples was manifested. Among results of main, minor and trace elements content, the last one which denoted to Cd, Co, Cu, Pb, and Mn was expressed as principal distinctive feature of shell samples collected from different sampling sites. Elemental profiling of mussel shell Noah's Ark provides novel insight in species status as well as in environmental status on the observed locations.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Kristina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kobelja
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Croatia. Electronic address: inemet@chem.pmf.hr.
authors.forename: Ivan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Nemet
authors.affiliation: Department of Ecology, Agronomy and Aquaculture, University of Zadar, Croatia.
authors.forename: Ivan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Župan
authors.affiliation: Department of Maritime Studies, University of Zadar, Croatia.
authors.forename: Jelena
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Čulin
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Sanda
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rončević
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D049893:Arcidae / Q000737:chemistry*; D049872:Bivalvia / Q000737:chemistry*; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D013057:Spectrum Analysis; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D014131:Trace Elements
keywords: Elemental profiling; ICP-OES; Mussel shell; Trace metals