The concentration and biomagnification of trace metals and metalloids across four trophic levels in a marine food web

To be able to assess progress towards Good Environmental Status adopted across European Member States, and by the United Kingdom through its 3-stage Marine Strategy, contaminant concentrations and their biological effects need to be assessed in environmental samples by comparison to assessment criteria. This study examines the variability of concentrations (inter- and intra- species variation) of three priority heavy metals (Hg, Cd and Pb) and six additional trace metals and metalloids (As, Ni, Se, Zn, Cu and Cr) in twenty-three species across four trophic levels from different locations around Scotland. Trophic magnification factors (TMFs) were calculated using two methods for metals/metalloids possessing a significant trophic relationship (Hg, Cd, Cu, Ni and Zn) to refine and improve the application of TMFs to assess and predict biomagnification risk of metals/metalloids to biota in the environment. It was concluded that a reasonable balance in sample numbers of lower- versus highertrophic level organisms is highly recommended when calculating TMFs and appropriate species selection is vital to ensure TMFs accurately represent the selected ecosystem.

Automated summary

This study examined the variability of concentrations of heavy metals and metalloids in different species from different trophic levels in Scotland, and calculated trophic magnification factors (TMFs) to assess and predict biomagnification risk. It was concluded that a balance in sample numbers of lower- versus higher trophic level organisms is recommended when calculating TMFs, and appropriate species selection is vital to ensure accurate representation of the ecosystem.