Trace metal levels in mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis L. 1758) from Turkish Aegean Sea coast.

Bio-monitoring of some heavy metal levels (Cd, Pb, Zn, Cu) in whole edible soft parts of Mytilus galloprovincialis (L. 1758) was conducted in Turkish Aegean Sea coast during the period of September 2002-August 2003 seasonally. Moreover, some physico-chemical environmental parameters, also have been analysed in the same region. The values of some physico-chemical environmental parameters in coastal waters of Turkish Aegean Sea were changed between; 9.0-27.0 ( composite function)C for temperature, 31.93-40.45 psu for salinity, 7.35-8.48 for pH and 4.05-9.50 mg/l for dissolved oxygen. The levels of trace elements in whole edible soft parts including interstitial fluids of Mediterranean mussels M. galloprovincialis (L. 1758), sampled from 6 different regions of Turkish Aegean Sea coast have ranged between; 0.04-0.52 microg Cd/g wet weight, 0.49-1.72 microg Pb/g w.w., 0.95-1.85 Cu/g w.w., 16.11-37.15 microg Zn/g w.w. The highest values for all trace metals (Cd, Pb, Zn, Cu) were measured in inner part of Izmir Bay (station 3) and lowest in Sigacik and Gulluk Bay (station 5, 6). Generally heavy metal levels are lower than the results in soft mussel tissues reported from Mediterranean regions.