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Explora: Environment
and Resource Trace elements in Mediterranean mussels

A B C

Figure 1. MDS of data by Fattorini et al. related to the seasonal and interannual variations of trace elements in tissues of Mytilus galloprovincialis sampled
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monthly from a central Adriatic Sea location (Portonovo, Ancona, Italy) between 2001 and 2005. (A) Data distribution as a function of season; (B) Data
distribution as a function of year; (C) Map showing the contribution of various parameters in determining the data distribution, similarity, and separation
(further details in the text).
Abbreviations: As: Arsenic; Ba: Barium; Cd: Cadmium; Cr: Chromium; Cu: Copper; Fe: Iron; Hg: Mercury; Mn: Manganese; Ni: Nickel; Pb: Lead; Se:
Selenium; V: Vanadium; Zn: Zinc; MDS: Multidimensional scaling.

(light green) and summer (orange) clusters, confirming 3.1. The natural arsenic gradient in the Adriatic Sea
the strong seasonality of trace elements concentration Arsenic is a widely distributed element that exists in several
values in mussel tissues and the phenomena previously chemical forms in the marine environment. Inorganic
described. Interestingly, the distribution of clusters by year arsenic mediates the most toxic effects and predominates
(Figure 1B) revealed an overlap between the clusters for in sea water and sediments, while organisms generally
2002 (red), 2003 (green), and 2004 (light blue). In contrast, accumulate non-toxic organic forms to concentrations
the clusters for 2001 (grey) and 2005 (purple) were partially
separated and distinct. This result confirms interannual that likely reflect species-specific characteristics in
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differences, with seasonal trends characterized by temporal arsenic metabolism. Fattorini et al. investigated the
shifts in concentration values of certain elements in mussel concentrations of trace elements, including arsenic, in
tissues from year to year. Finally, the separation of the mussels (M. galloprovincialis) from the Adriatic Sea (Italy)
analyzed parameters is shown in Figure 1C, highlighting over a 5-year period, sampling from more than 40 offshore
how they influence the MDS distribution of the available installations. The primary goal was to understand natural
data. It is immediately evident that arsenic was clearly variations in levels of arsenic and other elements and to
separated from all other parameters, confirming a distinct assess the potential impact of anthropogenic activities,
distribution pattern for this element in mussel tissues, particularly those related to offshore gas extraction.
leading to seasonal and interannual fluctuations that differ Arsenic exhibited unique patterns that were not
from those of other trace elements. strongly correlated with other elements, and important

3. Natural enrichment phenomena and geographical differences in bioaccumulation in mussels
were observed, with higher concentrations in the
spots of anthropogenic contamination central Adriatic compared to the northern region. Such
Natural enrichment phenomena or chronic anthropogenic arsenic level variations were largely attributed to natural
contamination sources can influence the bioavailability fluctuations rather than direct anthropogenic impacts
and bioaccumulation of trace elements in mussel tissues. from offshore platform activities. The results revealed a
These phenomena typically affect specific areas on a regional north-south gradient, with higher arsenic levels
restricted geographical scale. In the Mediterranean, some observed in the Ancona area (Central Adriatic Sea, Italy),
of these natural or anthropogenic phenomena coexist. In particularly during 2004 and 2005. This trend was found
this section, the most relevant elements are summarized. to be independent of geographical location and exhibited a

Volume 2 Issue 2 (2025) 7 doi: 10.36922/eer.8078