Bioaccumulation of metallic trace elements and organic pollutants in marine sponges from the South Brittany Coast, France

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was to compare the accumulation of metallic and organic pollutants in marine sponges with the oyster Crassostrea gigas used as sentinel species. The concentrations of 12 Metallic Trace Elements (MTEs), 16 Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs), 7 PolyChlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs), and 3 organotin derivatives were measured in 7 marine sponges collected in the Etel River (South Brittany, France). Results indicated Al, Co, Cr, Fe, Pb, and Ti particularly accumulated in marine sponges such as Hymeniacidon perlevis and Raspailia ramosa at higher levels compared to oysters. At the opposite, Cu and Zn accumulated significantly at higher concentrations in oysters. Among PAHs analyzed, benzo(a)pyrene bioaccumulated in H. perlevis at levels up to 17-fold higher than in oysters. In contrast, PCBs bioaccumulated preferentially in oysters. Significant differences exist in the abilities of marine phyla and sponge species to accumulate organic and metallic pollutants however, among the few sponge species studied, H. perlevis showed impressive bioaccumulation properties. The use of this species as bioindicator and/or bioremediator near shellfish farming areas is also discussed.

KEYWORDS:

• Bioaccumulation
• marine sponges
• metallic trace elements
• polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
• polychlorinated biphenyls

Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to S. Gachelin from the Comité Régional Conchylicole Bretagne Sud, J.F. Taugé, D. Le Baron and D. Perraud for allowing access to their shellfish farming concessions. The authors also acknowledge C. Caplat for her scientific advice.

Funding

This work was funded by the Fonds Européen pour la Pêche (FEP) Axe – 4 Pays d'Auray and supported by a PhD grant from the Conseil Général du Morbihan and the Conseil Régional de Bretagne.