Heavy metals monitoring in the mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis from the Apulian coast (Southern Italy)

Concentrations of six heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Pb and Zn) and one semi-metal (As) were determined in tissues of the mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis collected along the Apulian coast (Mediterranean Sea). This project, executed in 2009, focused on the assessment of the levels and spatial distribution of metals in the environment, in order to evaluate coastal water quality, using mussels as bioindicators, and the health risk for mussel consumers. The concentrations (mg/kg d.w.) of these metals ranged from 6.35 to 76.17 for arsenic (As), 0.38 to 2.54 for cadmium (Cd), 0.96 to 9.46 for chromium (Cr), 5.26 to 19.22 for copper (Cu), 0.10 to 0.81 for mercury (Hg), 25.00 to 110.51 for zinc (Zn) and 0.37 to 3.25 for lead (Pb). These levels were lower than the permissible limits set by the European Commission and FAO, with the exception of Cr at three sampling stations. Evaluation of the public health risk associated with mollusc consumption indicates that there is no evident risk for a moderate Mytilus g. consumer; however, heavy metal concentrations must be monitored periodically and carefully with respect to consumer health.