Biomonitoring of maritime pollution by heavy metals (Pb and Zn) in the coast of Jijel (Algeria)

Abstract

This paper reports a study of pollution in the coastal waters of Jijel, Algeria, using algae Ulva lactuca and Corallina officinalis as bioindicators. Samples of seawater and algae were collected at four different stations from the coast of Jijel, during the period of April–June 2014. The heavy metal content (Pb and Zn) was determined in seawater and in the algae tissue by the technique of atomic absorption spectrophotometry. In seawater, the contents of heavy metals vary from 0.017 to 0.03 mg/l (Pb) and 0.235 to 0.873 mg/l. In the algae tissues, metals concentrations vary between 1.88 to 6.25 μg g⁻¹ dry weight (Pb), and from 92 to 178.9 μg g⁻¹ dry weight (Zn). These levels differ by site and species. The calculation of the bioconcentration factor (BCF) leads us to conclude that algae bioaccumulate significant levels of Pb and Zn metals in their tissues. Our results shows that the species of C. officinalis bioaccumulate the metals Pb and Zn more than U. lactuca, where, high biosorption of Zn was observed with BCF values between 203.21 and 238.40. Zn content in seawater and algae tissues appear higher than standards set by USEPA and guides values of Certified Reference Materials, but Pb levels appear lower than this standard.

Keywords:

• AAS
• Algae bioindicators
• BCF
• Biomonitoring

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Dekhil Besma for help with an earlier version of the text. We are also grateful to the scientific group of the Biology and Environmental Laboratory, University of Constantine and the Phytochemistry and Phytopharmacology Laboratory, University of Jijel, to the anonymous reviewer for his careful comments, and to the Editor for his remarkable patience and sustained help.