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Study of metals concentration levels in Patella piperata throughout the Canary Islands, Spain
Oscar Bergasa1, Rubén Ramírez, Cayetano Collado
1Department of Chemistry, BIOGES. Faculty of Marine Science, University of Las Palmas de G.C. Campus de Tafira, s/n. CP: 35017. Las Palmas de G.C., Canary Islands, Spain. obergasa@acciones.ulpgc.es
Abstract:
In order to assess the extent of metal contamination at rocky shores of the Canarian Archipelago, metal concentrations have been measured in Patella piperata (Gould, 1846), using the standard atomic absorption spectrophotometer technique. Ranges of elements concentrations measured (in microg g(-1)) found in the biota were: Cd (0.36 +/- 0.26 microg g(-1) dry wt.), Cu (2.05 +/- 0.91 dry wt.), Pb (1.57 +/- 1.14 microg g(-1)dry wt.) and Zn (10.37 +/- 4.60 microg g(-1) dry wt.). Variation in metal concentrations in Patella, was tested by using non-parametric statistical methods. Cd content had a maximum in the Archipelago Chinijo, northward of Lanzarote Island. The metal concentrations recorded at the clean stations may be considered carefully if they are used like background levels.
