Non-traditional stable isotopes applied to the study of trace metal contaminants in anthropized marine environments

The advent of Multicollector ICP-MS inaugurated the analysis of new metal isotope systems, the so-called nontraditional isotopes. They are now available tools to study geochemical and ecotoxicological aspects of marine metal contamination and hence, to push the frontiers of our knowledge. However, such applications are still in their infancy, and an accessible state-of-the-art describing main applications, obstacles, gaps, and directions for further development was missing from the literature. This paper fills this gap and aims to encourage the marine scientific community to explore the contributions of this newly available information for the fields of chemical risk assessment, biomonitoring, and trophic transfer of metal contaminants. In the current Anthropocene epoch, metal contamination will continue to threaten marine aquatic ecosystems, and non-traditional isotopes can be a valuable tool to detect human-induced changes across time-space involving metal contaminants, and their interaction with marine biota.

Automated summary

The advent of Multicollector ICP-MS has opened the door to studying nontraditional isotopes in marine metal contamination, providing valuable tools for understanding geochemical and ecotoxicological aspects. However, research on these applications is still in its early stages, with limited information on recent developments and obstacles. This paper aims to fill this gap and encourage the marine scientific community to utilize this newly available information for chemical risk assessment, biomonitoring, and examining the trophic transfer of metal contaminants.