Levels Of Heavy Metal Concentration In M. Galloprovincialis Mollusc Species From Nw Black Sea (Romania)

Bivalve molluscs were collected from five sampling stations (water depths within 43.2-54.2 m), 30 km offshore Sfantu Gheorghe mouth (NW Black Sea), during a research cruise aboard R/V Mare Nigrum conducted in May 2019. Concentrations of Cd (1.69-5.37 mg/kg), Co (0.88-2.2 mg/kg), and Hg (0.085-0.114 mg/kg) were determined by spectrometric techniques. Only Cd exceeded the maximum limit set by Commission Regulation (EC) No. 1881/2006. In order to discriminate between samples collected from five sampling stations, PCA was applied, where the heavy metal concentration in the mollusc tissue, TOC content in the sediment, and water depth were selected as variables.