Journal of Environmental Biology

Combined toxicity of mercury and plastic wastes to crustacean and gastropod inhabiting the waters in Kuwait

AH Bu-Olayan and BV Thomas*

Department of Chemistry, Kuwait University, Khaldiya Campus Safat 13060,? Kuwait

*Corresponding Author?s E-mail : bivint@yahoo.com

Publication Data

Paper received:

28 July 2014

Revised received:

03 February 2015

Accepted:

20 March 2015

Abstract

The present study determined total mercury (T-Hg) in crustacean Portunus pelagicus (blue crab) and mollusc Tapes sulcarius (Furrowed Venus: Cockle) following suspected rise in beach plastic wastes and their effect on marine organisms. Live samples were collected from beaches representing six Kuwait Governorate areas and exposed to toxicity (96hr) and bio accumulation tests for 180 d with inclusion of plastic wastes and environmental conditions simulated in laboratory. Results revealed high T-Hg concentrations in T. sulcarius (1.44ng l^-1) compared to P.pelagicus (1.03ng l^-1) during winter than summer, with bio accumulation factor (BAF)>1 labelled these species as hyper-accumulators. Significantly, combination of T-Hg concentrations from plastic wastes and in seawater validated the possibilities of detrimental effects of other marine lives besides deteriorating the aesthetic values of scenic beaches and likelihood of invasive species in such coastal areas. ???  

 Key words

Bioaccumulation, Mercury, Plastic wastes, Toxicity 

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