Impact of products of a ferronickel smelting plant to the marine benthic life

The determination of heavy metal concentrations in the tissues of biota is an accurate method to estimate the abundance and the bioavailability of metals in the marine environment. The concentration of Fe, Cr, Cu and Zn were measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometry in molluscs, algae and angiosperms from a marine area adjacent to a ferronickel smelting plant (situated at North Evoikos Gulf, Greece), in order to investigate the spatial distribution of metals along the coast and their impact on marine benthic life. Results showed higher levels of Fe and Cr in biota from the sampling sites situated near the smelting plant or the dumping site of the nretalliferous slag in contrast with the obviously lower levels of the more distant sites. Molluscs showed generally higher concentrations of Fe and Cr in their tissues than plants. Cu and Zo were distributed quite undonnely in the tissues of the studied species. Furthermore the concentration of Fe and Cr in mussels collected from two localities at Evoikos Gulf and kept in clear seawater under experimental conditions decreased by almost 50% in comparison to their initial concentration within 18–48 hours of detoxification.