Va. Catsiki et al., CHROMIUM DISTRIBUTION IN BENTHIC SPECIES FROM A GULF RECEIVING TANNERY WASTES (GULF OF GERAS LESBOS ISLAND, GREECE), Science of the total environment, 145(1-2), 1994, pp. 173-185
This study deals with the distribution and bioaccumulation of chromium
in benthic biota (Posidonia oceanica, Paracentrotus lividus, Ostrea e
dulis, Pinna nobilis and Pinnotheres pinotheres) collected from the se
mi-enclosed Geras Gulf (Lesbos island) receiving tannery wastes that c
ontain chromium in order to investigate the chromium levels as well as
the effect of tannery wastes on the geographical distribution of chro
mium around the Gulf. Chromium concentrations, obtained by atomic abso
rption spectrophotometry, showed that the effect of the tannery on the
ambient levels of chromium in the biota was restricted and limited to
a distance of 2-3 km. A great variability in chromium concentrations
in individuals of the same species was recorded mainly in samples coll
ected in the contaminated stations near the tannery. Chromium concentr
ations in biota from Geras and Kalloni Gulfs (the second semi-enclosed
gulf of Lesbos island) were associated with naturally occurring chrom
ium due to the erosion of surrounding rocks. P. nobilis was selected a
s an indicator species to study chromium contamination.