Evaluation of heavy metal and aluminium accumulation in a gastropod, patella caerulea L., 1758 in Iskenderun Bay, Turkey

Abstract

In this study, heavy metals (Fe, Zn, Cd, Cu, Co, Ni, Mn, Pb and Cr) and aluminium (Al) were determined in tissue of Patella caerulea from various population in Iskenderun Bay, Turkey. Our study focused on seasonal variation of some heavy metals and aluminium in Patella caerulea L., 1758 tissues collected from eight different sampling stations of Iskenderun Bay. The concentration of heavy metal in P caerulea tissues tended to vary significantly between season and stations. The distribution of heavy metals in P caerulea followed in their muscular tissues in order; cevlik > Kalekoy> Payas > Arsuz > Dortyol > Konacik > Yumurtahk > Iskenderun for spring and Kalekoy > Payas > Iskenderun > Arsuz > Dortyol > Yumurtalik > Konacik > cevlik for autumn. It was found that the accumulation of heavy metals at different parts of P. caerulea changes with respect to season and the type of heavy metal.