Assessment of trace elements in the shell layers and soft tissues of the pearl oyster Pinctada radiata using multivariate analyses: a potential proxy for temporal and spatial variations of trace elements

Concentrations of trace elements (Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb, V, and Zn) were determined in the soft tissues (adductor muscle and gills) of the pearl oyster Pinctada radiata and surficial sediments from two sampling sites located in the northern part of the Persian Gulf by Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (GFAAS). Moreover, the levels of Li, Mg, Al, Mn, Fe, Cu, Sr, Ba, Pb, and Zn were measured in two shell layers (prismatic and nacreous) using Laser Ablation Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer (LA-ICP-MS). There were significant differences between the sampling sites with regard to mean concentrations of Cu, Mn, and Al in the prismatic layers of the shells. But in terms of the soft tissues, only in the case of Ni accumulation in the muscle significant differences between the sites could be observed. No significant differences could be found between the sites from the elements concentrations in the sediments point of view. The levels of Cd, Cu, Ni, and Zn in the gills were markedly higher than those in the muscle. Concentrations of Mn, Mg, Li, and Cu in the prismatic layer were significantly higher than in the nacreous but the reverse case could be found for Sr. The patterns of metal occurrence in the selected tissues, shell layers, and sediments exhibited the following descending order: Zn, Ni?>?Cd, Cu?>?V, and Pb and Zn, Ni, Cd?>?Cu, V, and Pb for muscle and gills, respectively; Zn?>?Cu, Ni, Pb, Cd, and V for sediments; Mg?>?Sr, Mn, Li, Al, Fe, Ba, Cu, Pb, and Zn for the prismatic layer; and Sr, Mg?>?Mn, Al, Fe, Li, Ba, Cu, Pb, and Zn for the nacreous layer. In most cases, the temporal variations of the elements levels in the prismatic layer were clearer than those in the nacreous layer (especially for Li, Mg, Mn, Pb, and Fe). Comparison of the gained data from this study with the other relevant researches shows that in most cases the levels of the elements in this investigation either fell within the range for other world areas or were lower. Generally, it can be concluded that the shell (especially prismatic layer) of P. radiata can be considered as a suitable proxy for temporal and spatial variations of the trace elements (and probably some environmental parameters) in the study area.