Heavy Metals in Marine Organisms from Albanian Coastal Waters

Keywords Pollution, heavy metals, marine mussels, marine fishes, coastal areas, atomic absorption

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Abstract: Marine mussels and marine fishes are generally used as bioindicators of heavy metal pollution in coastal areas, because pollutants are potentially accumulated in marine organisms and sediments. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Levels of mercury, cadmium, lead and chromium were determined in the soft issue of five types of marine organisms (Mytilus galloprovincialis, Ruditapes decussatus, Donaxspp, Mullus barbatus, Sardina pilcardus) collected along Albanian coast from Shengjin to Butrint , during two periods of time, 1990 – 1993 and 2002 – 2007. The analyses were performed using electrothermal atomic absorption and cold vapor atomic technique. RESULTS: The concentration of heavy metals in marine organisms had resulted in very large range. The highest levels of heavy metals were obtained in samples collected near Vlora bay in central Albanian part of Adriatic Sea, where was allocated one chlorine soda plant, and the lowest concentrations were obtained in samples collected in northern part of country, Adriatic Sea, and in the southern part, Ionian Sea. The level of mercury varied from 0.02 – 0.410 mg/kg, the levels of lead and cadmium oscillated from 0.326 – 1.582 and 0.055 – 0.927 mg/kg. respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Comparing the res ults obtained in first period of our study 1992 – 1993 with those of second period, ten years later, of 2002 – 2007, there was observed a slight decrease in concentrations of heavy metals in marine organisms, that is, in our opinion, related with the collapse of the industrial activities that polluted the sea water with heavy metals.