Metal contents in biological samples of Rocuant island, Concepcion bay, Chile

Abstract

The presence of heavy metals in organisms tissues from the Rocuant Island, Concepcion Bay, is analyzed. The study was carried out on the bivalve Tagelus dombeii (“navajuela”), Mulinia edulis (“taquilla”), the seaweeds Gracilaria chilensis (“pelillo”) and Rhodymenia sp (“rodymenia”) and the fi sh Stromateus stellatus (“pampanito “). The metals analyzed were Cd, Fe, Hg, Pb and Zn and there were no previous records in the locality. The sampling for benthic organisms was carried out by “hooka” diving, while fi sh were caught using a fi shing nets. In general, metals concentrations are comparable to values reported in the literature for the same species in other areas of central Chilean coast. This suggests they refl ect a natural condition and the levels of Cd, Hg and Pb in the bivalve mollusks are under the acceptance levels for products to export. It should be noticed that Pb content in these organisms is under the analytical detection limits in all organisms, as well as Cd in the fi sh S. stellatus and the seaweeds G. chilensis. The Fe content in Rhodymenia sp. shows the highest absolute value of the whole study.