Analysis of pollution by heavy metals in sediments and species of commercial interest of the Galician coast

Abstract

Concentration of different heavy metals was quantified for sediments and bivalves of commercial interest from four different areas of the Galician coast (NW-Spain). Analysed species were, Cerastoderma edule, Mytilus galloprovincialis, Ensis siliqua, Venerupis pullastra and Ruditapes decussatus. Higher metal contamination in organisms than in sediments show the bioaccumulation ability of these bivalves, specially in mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) and razor shells (Ensis siliqua). Although two sampled areas are nowadays included in Natura 2000 network (Corrubedo and Mandeo), in 2003, when sampled, they were highly polluted, specially Mandeo and organisms from Corrubedo, these may be and indicator of different wastes and heavy metal inputs in Mandeo and time recovering differences after an oil spill. All areas showed metal concentration above the sediment quality guidelines proposed values by the NOAA, numbers established by OSPAR, and concentrations established by the UE about seafood.