Biomonitoring potential of trace metal accumulation and bioavailability in coral skeletons and reef sediments of Persian Gulf: A comparative study

Nayband Marine National Park in the northern Persian Gulf is an important ecological areas, significantly impacted by industrial activites that poses risk of trace metal pollution to living organisms. In this study, we investigated the bioaccumulation of trace metals in scleractinian corals using an...

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Main Authors: Seyed Hassan Mousavi, Mehdi Gholamalifard, Seyed Mahmoud Ghasempouri
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-01-01
Series:Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0147651325001228
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author Seyed Hassan Mousavi
Mehdi Gholamalifard
Seyed Mahmoud Ghasempouri
author_facet Seyed Hassan Mousavi
Mehdi Gholamalifard
Seyed Mahmoud Ghasempouri
author_sort Seyed Hassan Mousavi
collection DOAJ
description Nayband Marine National Park in the northern Persian Gulf is an important ecological areas, significantly impacted by industrial activites that poses risk of trace metal pollution to living organisms. In this study, we investigated the bioaccumulation of trace metals in scleractinian corals using annual growth bands and biota-sediment accumulation factor to assess their potential as biomonitoring organisms. Furthermore, to assess the sediment quality, sediment pollution indices and international guidelines was employed. To achieve this, three Faviidae coral and sixteen sediment samples were collected in March 2023 from three sites: an industrial zone (site I), a rural fishing zone (site II), and a marine protected area (site III). In first step, coral samples washed, sun-dried, sliced into 1-cm slabs, X-rayed to reveal annual growth bands, and powder was prepared from each growth band. Then freeze-dried sediments and coral powder were ground, sieved (63 μm), digested (using United States Environmental Protection Agency - Method 3050b) and filtered (Whatman No. 42). Finally, trace metals were analyzed using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry instrument. The results show severe anthropogenic pollution at sites I and II compared to site III and significant differences between their sampling stations. Mg and Sr concentrations were highest in sediments and corals, respectively, while, Co is lowest in both. According to the sediment pollution indices, Site I showed the highest potential toxicity to biota, followed by Site II and then Site III. The results also suggest that the Faviidae corals are effective bio-indicators for Pb, Li, Cu, and Ni contamination.
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spelling doaj-art-57151e4938294c2dbbf60dd17a0dc3002025-02-12T05:30:21ZengElsevierEcotoxicology and Environmental Safety0147-65132025-01-01290117786Biomonitoring potential of trace metal accumulation and bioavailability in coral skeletons and reef sediments of Persian Gulf: A comparative studySeyed Hassan Mousavi0Mehdi Gholamalifard1Seyed Mahmoud Ghasempouri2Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Faculty of Natural Resources and Marine Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, 46417-76489, IranCorresponding authors.; Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Faculty of Natural Resources and Marine Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, 46417-76489, IranCorresponding authors.; Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Faculty of Natural Resources and Marine Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, 46417-76489, IranNayband Marine National Park in the northern Persian Gulf is an important ecological areas, significantly impacted by industrial activites that poses risk of trace metal pollution to living organisms. In this study, we investigated the bioaccumulation of trace metals in scleractinian corals using annual growth bands and biota-sediment accumulation factor to assess their potential as biomonitoring organisms. Furthermore, to assess the sediment quality, sediment pollution indices and international guidelines was employed. To achieve this, three Faviidae coral and sixteen sediment samples were collected in March 2023 from three sites: an industrial zone (site I), a rural fishing zone (site II), and a marine protected area (site III). In first step, coral samples washed, sun-dried, sliced into 1-cm slabs, X-rayed to reveal annual growth bands, and powder was prepared from each growth band. Then freeze-dried sediments and coral powder were ground, sieved (63 μm), digested (using United States Environmental Protection Agency - Method 3050b) and filtered (Whatman No. 42). Finally, trace metals were analyzed using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry instrument. The results show severe anthropogenic pollution at sites I and II compared to site III and significant differences between their sampling stations. Mg and Sr concentrations were highest in sediments and corals, respectively, while, Co is lowest in both. According to the sediment pollution indices, Site I showed the highest potential toxicity to biota, followed by Site II and then Site III. The results also suggest that the Faviidae corals are effective bio-indicators for Pb, Li, Cu, and Ni contamination.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0147651325001228Bio-accumulationScleractinian CoralsTrace MetalSedimentPersian Gulf
spellingShingle Seyed Hassan Mousavi
Mehdi Gholamalifard
Seyed Mahmoud Ghasempouri
Biomonitoring potential of trace metal accumulation and bioavailability in coral skeletons and reef sediments of Persian Gulf: A comparative study
Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety
Bio-accumulation
Scleractinian Corals
Trace Metal
Sediment
Persian Gulf
title Biomonitoring potential of trace metal accumulation and bioavailability in coral skeletons and reef sediments of Persian Gulf: A comparative study
title_full Biomonitoring potential of trace metal accumulation and bioavailability in coral skeletons and reef sediments of Persian Gulf: A comparative study
title_fullStr Biomonitoring potential of trace metal accumulation and bioavailability in coral skeletons and reef sediments of Persian Gulf: A comparative study
title_full_unstemmed Biomonitoring potential of trace metal accumulation and bioavailability in coral skeletons and reef sediments of Persian Gulf: A comparative study
title_short Biomonitoring potential of trace metal accumulation and bioavailability in coral skeletons and reef sediments of Persian Gulf: A comparative study
title_sort biomonitoring potential of trace metal accumulation and bioavailability in coral skeletons and reef sediments of persian gulf a comparative study
topic Bio-accumulation
Scleractinian Corals
Trace Metal
Sediment
Persian Gulf
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0147651325001228
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