Mercury Levels in the Tissues of Mediterranean Mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) at two Marine Sites along the Algerian Coast.

The objective of this study was to monitor changes in mercury levels in the tissues of Mytilus galloprovincialis mussels collected from two sites on the Algerian coast, Sercouf and Algiers Port. Thirty individuals exceeding 5 cm in length were sampled seasonally. The gills, digestive glands, gonads and remaining soft tissues were separated and chemically treated in accordance with IAEA protocol. Mercury analysis was conducted using a Mercury Vapor Monitor VM-3000. The mercury content exhibited a range from 0.039 to 0.321 µg/g dry weight. Significant high concentrations were found in digestive gland tissues, followed by gills. However, moderate to low levels were detected in the rest of soft tissues and gonads. The two sites exhibited significant variation in Hg amounts in mussel tissues among the seasons, which can be attributed to the variation in spills flux at the sampling sites. Indeed, elevated concentrations of Hg were recorded at Algiers port during the winter season, and in spring, winter and autumn at Sercouf. A high degree of positive correlation was identified between Hg and As, Cd, and Pb at Algiers Port, as well as between Hg and As at the Sercouf site. These findings offer insights into the composition of industrial rejections in these two locations. The estimated daily intake (EDI) and hazard quotient (HQ) calculations show that the mussels examined in this study present a minimal health risk to consumers. This finding indicates that the environmental health status of the two sampling sites was satisfactory.