African Journal of Agriculture

African Journal of Agriculture ISSN 2375-1134 Vol. 6 (1), pp. 001-006, January, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Seasonal variations of Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn in the edible mollusc Donax trunculus (Mollusca, Bivalvia) from the gulf of Annaba, Algeria

Hayette Beldi¹, Frédéric Gimbert², Samuel Maas², Renaud Scheifler², Noureddine Soltani¹*

¹Laboratory of Applied Animal Biology Department of Biology, University of Annaba 23000-Annaba, Algeria.

²University of Franche-Comté, Department of Environmental Biology, EA 3184 MR USC INRA, Place Leclerc 25030-Besançon Cedex, France.

Accepted 10 November, 2018

Abstract

Seasonal variations in the concentrations of four trace heavy metals (cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn)) were determined in Donax trunculus (Mollusca, Bivalvia) at two contaminated sites in the gulf of Annaba (East of Algeria): El Battah and Sidi Salem . The average concentrations of the metals exhibited the following order: Zn>Cu> Pb>Cd for the two sites. The statistical analysis revealed a significant effect of seasons for all metals measured, the highest values being recorded in winter for Zn and in summer for the other metals. Contrary to expectation, both sites were contaminated with trace heavy metals analysed. Although the highest levels were detected in Sidi Salem beach, there was no significant difference on trace heavy metal concentrations between sites, except for Cd. The implication of this metal contamination for local population was discussed.

Keywords: Bivalve Molluscs; Donax trunculus; Environmental contamination; Trace heavy metals, Biomonitoring.