Metal concentrations in mytilus galloprovincialis along the West coast of the Cape Peninsula, Cape Town, South Africa

Abstract

Concentrations of metals (Fe, Mn, Cu, Cd, Zn and Pb) in the mediterranean mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis were investigated at five sites along the west coast of the Cape Peninsula, Cape Town. The mussels were collected seasonally for one year starting from autumn 2010 and analysed using an ICP-MS. On the spatial and temporal scales, metal concentrations differed, with no clear trends. Of the five sites sampled, metal concentrations were lowest at Scarborough, the southernmost site, and seasonally, lowest during summer.The results indicated that most metals in the soft tissue of mussels were below the recommended concentrations (internationally), permissible legal limit (for South Africa) as well as historical data (for the same area) suggesting that biota in the coastal area sampled was not contaminated by metals. There is however a need for continuous biomonitoring the coastal area of South Africa as the results found here might not apply to the rest of the South African coastline.