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Influence of Salinity in the Bioavailability of Zn in Sediments of the Gulf of Cádiz (Spain)

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Abstract

This study assesses the effect of salinity in bioavailability and toxicity of Zn by means of laboratory bioassays by observing contamination in both sediment and water, accumulation of Zn in biological tissues, and histopathological damage in the gills and guts tissues of Ruditapes philippinarum clams, which were exposed to different types of sediments from the Gulf of Cádiz (SW Spain) as well as two dilutions of toxic mud coming from an accidental mining spill. With this objective, the coefficients of distribution (K D) for Zn between overlying water and sediments were calculated, the histopathological frequencies in the tissues of the gills and guts of clams were determined, and the biota-sediment bioaccumulation factors as well as the bioaccumulation factors were quantified in the different stations. Results showed that the greatest histopathological damages appeared when the salinity values decreased. Statistical results showed that salinity was inversely correlated with histopathological damage (p < 0.01) for the lesion index for gills. The most outstanding results were observed in the two dilutions of toxic mud (0.3% and 7.9%) at a salinity value of 10. Salinity was inversely correlated with the concentration of Zn in biological tissues (p < 0.05) and inversely correlated with the concentration of Zn in water and sediment. Zn mobilization to the overlying water is produced when salinity values decrease.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank Dra. M.L. Martín-Díaz (University of Cádiz) for the statistical support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Instituto de Ciencias Marinas de Andalucía (ICMAN), C.S.I.C, Polígono Río San Pedro s/n, 11510, Puerto Real, Cádiz, Spain

    Inmaculada Riba

  2. Dpto. de Química Física. Facultad de Ciencias del Mar, Universidad de Cádiz, Campus Río San Pedro s/n, 11510, Puerto Real, Cádiz, Spain

    Inmaculada Riba, Enrique García-Luque, Alejandra Maz-Courrau & Tomás Ángel DelValls

  3. Dpto. de Biología. Facultad de Ciencias del Mar, Universidad de Cádiz, Campus Río San Pedro s/n, 11510, Puerto Real, Cádiz, Spain

    María Luisa González de Canales

Authors
  1. Inmaculada Riba
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  2. Enrique García-Luque
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  3. Alejandra Maz-Courrau
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  4. María Luisa González de Canales
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  5. Tomás Ángel DelValls
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Correspondence to Enrique García-Luque.

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Riba, I., García-Luque, E., Maz-Courrau, A. et al. Influence of Salinity in the Bioavailability of Zn in Sediments of the Gulf of Cádiz (Spain). Water Air Soil Pollut 212, 329–336 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-010-0346-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-010-0346-8

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