Bioaccumulation of heavy metals in Donax obesulus from the Lambayeque littoral, Peru

Abstract

Donax obesulus is a bivalve widely mined and consumed by the local coastal population of the Lambayeque region, Peru. The coastal-marine environment where Donax obesulus lives present anthropogenic disturbances, including pollutants such as heavy metals (cadmium, copper, and lead). The objectives of this investigation were to quantify and evaluate the concentrations of copper, lead, and cadmium in edible tissues of Donax obesulus. Donax obesulus samples were collected from three beaches on the Lambayeque coast (from south to north: Lagunas, San José, and El Gigante) between May and July 2013. The samples were subjected to a toxicological test by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (OES) (ICP). The results showed that copper presented a clear cumulative trend in Donax obesulus with the highest concentration at San José beach in July (10.1 µg g-¹). In contrast, the concentrations of lead (> 0.3 µg g^-1) and cadmium (> 0.2 µg g^-1) were meager in all the sampling areas throughout the time the investigation covered. Bioaccumulation of copper, lead, and cadmium founded in Donax obesulus might vulnerate the food safety of its consumers.