Comparative study of heavy metals and selenium accumulation in the digestive gland and gills of Mytilus galloprovincialis (Lamarck, 1819) caught in Izmir Bay (Turkey)

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate heavy metals (Cr, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Cd, Hg, Pb) and selenium levels in digestive gland and gill tissues of wild Mediterranean mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis (Lamarck, 1819) collected from four locations in Izmir Bay. Methods: A total of 180 samples of the wild Mediterranean mussel M. galloprovincialis with shell length of 50-60 mm were collected from four locations. Inductively coupled plasmamass spectroscopy was used to determine heavy metals and selenium concentrations in mussel samples after microwave digestion process. Results: The highest values (mg kg(-1) dry weight) obtained for digestive gland and gills were 0.17 and 0.15 for Cr, 28.62 and 29.49 for Fe, 0.25 and 0.29 for Ni, 2.53 and 1.78 for Cu, 18.52 and 22.03 for Zn, 1.26 and 1.08 for As, 0.04 and 0.04 for Cd, 0.02 and 0.02 for Hg, 0.19 and 0.16 for Pb, 0.40 and 0.48 for Se, respectively. Statistically significant differences among digestive gland and gills (p<0.05) were found for Cr, Ni, Zn, As, Se and Cd. In general, the levels of the studied elements were higher for the Karsiyaka than for other three stations. Conclusion: The low levels of toxic metals (Cd, Hg, Pb, Cr, Ni) found in tissues of M. galloprovincialis, comparing with the other studies including taken place in the Inner of Izmir Bay. M. galloprovincialis can be used as a sensitive biomonitor for the availabilities of studied elements in the Inner Bay of Izmir, Turkey.