Accumulation of trace metals in marine organisms of the southeastern Adriatic coast, Montenegro

Abstract

The concentration and accumulation of trace metals (Co, Ni, As, Cd, Pb and Hg) were measured in seawater, sediments and marine organisms on the coastline of Montenegro. The obtained results of trace metals in sea grass and mussels were compared with those found in the water column and sediment. Sampling was performed in the fall of 2005 at five locations on the Montenegrin coastline, Sveta Stasija, Herceg Novi, Zanjice, Budva and Bar, which present different levels and sources of human impact. The heavy metals analyses of seawater, sediment, Posidonia oceanica and Mytilus galloprovincialis identified the harbor of Bar as the most Hg-contaminated site, Zanjice as the most As-contaminated and Sveta Stasija as the most Pb-contaminated areas of the Montenegrin coastal area. This study showed that P. oceanica may have a greater bioaccumulation capacity than M. galloprovincialis for the considered metals, except for As and Hg, and both organisms may reflect contamination in the water column and in the sediment. For the first time, the sea grass P. oceanica and M. galloprovincialis were employed as metal bioindicators for the southeastern Adriatic. The results of this study could serve as a baseline for future assessments of anthropogenic effects in this marine ecosystem.