Bio-monitoring of Trace Mercury Using Seabirds’ Dejections from Arzew Gulf: A Potential Risk for Human Health

BOUCHENTOUF Salim^1, and AÏNAD TABET Driss¹

¹Laboratory of Macromolecular Physical and Organic Chemistry, Djillali Liabes University of Sidi-Bel-Abbes, BP. 89, Algeria

Cite this paper:
BOUCHENTOUF Salim and AÏNAD TABET Driss. Bio-monitoring of Trace Mercury Using Seabirds’ Dejections from Arzew Gulf: A Potential Risk for Human Health. Journal of Environment Pollution and Human Health. 2014; 2(1):7-11. doi: 10.12691/jephh-2-1-2

Abstract

Pollution of the environment can be determined by means of biological methods with the help of bioindicators-organisms which give information on the quality vance of their environment. In the present study the first trace mercury bio-monitoring using seabirds’ dejections is investigated in the Arzew gulf. Excrements analysis from ten stations using ICP-MS shows high level (Hg) contamination up to 2.27 ± 0.05 µg.g^-1. Dejections’ contamination is due to mercury bioaccumulation via web food owing to the presence of this contaminant in coastal area coming from anthropogenic activities. Potential transfer of mercury to human causing health damage is very likely because of population fisheries consummation. Urgent measures must be taken to remedy this pollution aspect and prevent human health.

Keywords:
mercury bio-monitoring seabirds fecal matter chain food Arzew gulf coastal pollution

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