Heavy Metals and Persistent Organic Pollutants in Marine Organisms from Two Sicilian Protected Areas: Strait of Messina and Cape Peloro Lakes

This paper reviews several scientific articles regarding levels of organic and inorganic contaminants in a variety of marine species coming from two Sicilian protected areas: the Strait of Messina and Cape Peloro lakes (Ganzirri and Faro). Moreover, different analytical techniques for the determinations of organic and inorganic contaminants, and the procedures adopted for the analyses, are summarized. Quantitative and qualitative determination of organic pollutants was performed by High Resolution Gas Chromatography-Electron Capture Detection and confirmed by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry. The concentrations of inorganic elements were determined by Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry, derivative Stripping Chronopotentiometry, Inductively Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectrometry and Inductively Coupled Plasma - Mass Spectrometry. Results provide evidence that organic and inorganic residues found in some of the examined samples were mostly below the Maximum Residue Levels (MRLs). In conclusion, species analyzed in these studies were safe for human consumption and, consequently the investigated environments were estimated as free from toxicological risk.