African Journal of Agricultural Research Vol. 1 (4), pp. 085-090, November 2006          
ISSN 1991- 637X© 2006 Academic Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Seasonal variations of Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn in the edible mollusc Donax trunculus (Mollusca, Bivalvia) from the gulf of Annaba, Algeria

Hayette Beldi¹ , Frédéric Gimbert², Samuel Maas², Renaud Scheifler², Noureddine Soltani¹*

¹Laboratory of Applied Animal BiologyDepartment of Biology, University of Annaba

23000-Annaba, Algeria²University of Franche-Comté, Department of Environmental Biology,

EA 3184 MR USC INRA, Place Leclerc25030-Besançon Cedex, France.

*Corresponding author’s Email: nsolt@yahoo.fr, Fax: + 213 38 87 11 91.

Accepted 2 November, 2006

Seasonal variations in the concentrations of four trace heavy metals (cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn)) were determined in Donax trunculus (Mollusca, Bivalvia) at two contaminated sites in the gulf of Annaba (East of Algeria): El Battah and  Sidi Salem . The average concentrations of the metals exhibited the following order: Zn>Cu> Pb>Cd for the two sites. The statistical analysis revealed a significant effect of seasons for all metals measured, the highest values being recorded in winter for Zn and in summer for the other metals. Contrary to expectation, both sites were contaminated with trace heavy metals analysed. Although the highest levels were detected in Sidi Salem beach, there was no significant difference on trace heavy metal concentrations between sites, except for Cd. The implication of this metal contamination for local population was discussed.

Keywords: Bivalve Molluscs; Donax trunculus; Environmental contamination; Trace heavy metals, Biomonitoring.