Trace Metals Distribution in Tissues of 10 Different Shark Species from the Eastern Mediterranean Sea
As long-living apex predators, sharks tend to bioaccumulate trace metals through their diet. The distribution of Al, As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cs, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, V, Zn and Hg in different tissues (muscle, liver, heart, gills and gonads) of large-size (58–390 cm) sharks, some of which rare, of the eastern...
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MDPI AG
2024-02-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2410-3888/9/2/77 |
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| author | Eleni Roubie Sotirios Karavoltsos Aikaterini Sakellari Nikolaos Katsikatsos Manos Dassenakis Persefoni Megalofonou |
| author_facet | Eleni Roubie Sotirios Karavoltsos Aikaterini Sakellari Nikolaos Katsikatsos Manos Dassenakis Persefoni Megalofonou |
| author_sort | Eleni Roubie |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | As long-living apex predators, sharks tend to bioaccumulate trace metals through their diet. The distribution of Al, As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cs, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, V, Zn and Hg in different tissues (muscle, liver, heart, gills and gonads) of large-size (58–390 cm) sharks, some of which rare, of the eastern Mediterranean Sea was studied. Trace metals analyses in samples originating from ten different Chondrichthyes species were performed by inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and Cold Vapor Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (CVAAS) for Hg. Data on trace metal levels are for the first time reported herewith for the species <i>O. ferox</i> and <i>H. nakamurai</i>. Higher median concentrations of trace metals were generally determined in the liver. The concentrations of Hg, Cs and As in the muscle increased proportionally with body length. Statistically significant differences between sexes were recorded for Hg, Cr, Ni and As (<i>p</i> = 0.015) in the muscle tissues of <i>P. glauca</i>. Muscle tissue Hg concentrations exceeded the EU maximum limit (1 μg g<sup>−1</sup> wet weight) in 67% of the individuals sampled, with the highest concentrations detected in <i>O. ferox</i> and <i>S. zygaena</i>, whereas regarding Pb (limit 0.30 μg g<sup>−1</sup> ww), the corresponding percentage was 15%. Arsenic concentrations were also of concern in almost all shark tissues examined. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T22:32:37Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-68d0620810f94bb9ad623aa41e6eb6b8 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2410-3888 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T22:32:37Z |
| publishDate | 2024-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Fishes |
| spelling | doaj.art-68d0620810f94bb9ad623aa41e6eb6b82024-02-23T15:16:11ZengMDPI AGFishes2410-38882024-02-01927710.3390/fishes9020077Trace Metals Distribution in Tissues of 10 Different Shark Species from the Eastern Mediterranean SeaEleni Roubie0Sotirios Karavoltsos1Aikaterini Sakellari2Nikolaos Katsikatsos3Manos Dassenakis4Persefoni Megalofonou5Department of Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis, 157 84 Athens, GreeceLaboratory of Environmental Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis, 157 84 Athens, GreeceLaboratory of Environmental Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis, 157 84 Athens, GreeceLaboratory of Environmental Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis, 157 84 Athens, GreeceLaboratory of Environmental Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis, 157 84 Athens, GreeceDepartment of Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis, 157 84 Athens, GreeceAs long-living apex predators, sharks tend to bioaccumulate trace metals through their diet. The distribution of Al, As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cs, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, V, Zn and Hg in different tissues (muscle, liver, heart, gills and gonads) of large-size (58–390 cm) sharks, some of which rare, of the eastern Mediterranean Sea was studied. Trace metals analyses in samples originating from ten different Chondrichthyes species were performed by inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and Cold Vapor Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (CVAAS) for Hg. Data on trace metal levels are for the first time reported herewith for the species <i>O. ferox</i> and <i>H. nakamurai</i>. Higher median concentrations of trace metals were generally determined in the liver. The concentrations of Hg, Cs and As in the muscle increased proportionally with body length. Statistically significant differences between sexes were recorded for Hg, Cr, Ni and As (<i>p</i> = 0.015) in the muscle tissues of <i>P. glauca</i>. Muscle tissue Hg concentrations exceeded the EU maximum limit (1 μg g<sup>−1</sup> wet weight) in 67% of the individuals sampled, with the highest concentrations detected in <i>O. ferox</i> and <i>S. zygaena</i>, whereas regarding Pb (limit 0.30 μg g<sup>−1</sup> ww), the corresponding percentage was 15%. Arsenic concentrations were also of concern in almost all shark tissues examined.https://www.mdpi.com/2410-3888/9/2/77trace metalsmercurysharkstissueseastern Mediterranean |
| spellingShingle | Eleni Roubie Sotirios Karavoltsos Aikaterini Sakellari Nikolaos Katsikatsos Manos Dassenakis Persefoni Megalofonou Trace Metals Distribution in Tissues of 10 Different Shark Species from the Eastern Mediterranean Sea Fishes trace metals mercury sharks tissues eastern Mediterranean |
| title | Trace Metals Distribution in Tissues of 10 Different Shark Species from the Eastern Mediterranean Sea |
| title_full | Trace Metals Distribution in Tissues of 10 Different Shark Species from the Eastern Mediterranean Sea |
| title_fullStr | Trace Metals Distribution in Tissues of 10 Different Shark Species from the Eastern Mediterranean Sea |
| title_full_unstemmed | Trace Metals Distribution in Tissues of 10 Different Shark Species from the Eastern Mediterranean Sea |
| title_short | Trace Metals Distribution in Tissues of 10 Different Shark Species from the Eastern Mediterranean Sea |
| title_sort | trace metals distribution in tissues of 10 different shark species from the eastern mediterranean sea |
| topic | trace metals mercury sharks tissues eastern Mediterranean |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2410-3888/9/2/77 |
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