Insights into bioaccumulation and bioconcentration of potentially toxic elements in marine sponges from the Northwestern Mediterranean coast of Morocco. (July 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Krikech, Imad; Ranjbar Jafarabadi, Ali; Leermakers, Martine; Le Pennec, Gaël; Cappello, Tiziana; Ezziyyani, Mohammed
• Is Part Of: Marine pollution bulletin. Volume 180(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-07
• Subjects: Filter-feeders -- Bioindicators -- Trace metal elements -- Sediments -- Coastal waters -- Source apportionment; Marine pollution -- Periodicals; Marine Biology -- Periodicals; Water Pollution -- Periodicals; Mer -- Pollution -- Périodiques; Publications périodiques; Pollution des mers; Lutte antipollution; Electronic journals; 363.7394
• DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.113770
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0025-326X

Abstract

Abstract: The present research aimed to investigate the concentrations and patterns of six potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in three common sponge species collected along the Moroccan Mediterranean coast, as well as their levels in ambient seawater and sediments. Distinct inter-species variability in PTEs bioaccumulation was observed among the three species, suggesting that sponges have distinct selectivity for assimilating PTEs from the surrounding environment. C. crambe had a higher enrichment capacity for Cu, As, Cr and Ni, while P. ficiformis and C. reniformis exhibited the highest concentration of Cd and Pb, respectively. Interestingly, a similar spatial distribution patterns of PTEs was observed in the three media, with high values occurring in Tangier and Al-Hoceima locations. Overall, our results confirm that sponges reliably reflect the bioavailability of PTEs in their immediate environment, especially C. crambe, whose PTE tissue contents were highly and positively correlated with the contents of all PTEs in the sediments. Graphical abstract: Unlabelled Image Highlights: Sponges from Mediterranean Morocco were assessed for PTE accumulation for the first time. There are intra- and inter-species PTE variability among the studied sponges. PTEs were significantly higher in all matrices from TNG and ALH locations than those from other sites. BCFs and BSAFs results suggest a sponge bioaccumulation of PTEs from seawater rather than from the sediment Among the PTEs, Cu, As and Cd exhibited the highest BCFs and BSAFs values in sponges.