Bioaccumulation of Trace Elements in Marine Organisms from Deep-Waters of Off-Sanninn and Off-Hokuriku, Japan

Twenty seven trace elements (Li, Mg, Al, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Rb, Sr, Mo, Ag, Cd, In, Sn, Sb, Cs, Ba, Tl, Hg, Pb, Bi) and stable isotope ratios (δ13C and δ15N) were measured in deep sea organisms from OffSanninn and Off-Hokuriku, Japan to evaluate the trophic transfer of these elements. Concentrations of Al, Fe, In, Sb and Ba were positively correlated with δ15N values suggesting that these elements were plausibly bioaccumulated through food web in the Off-Sanninn region. On the other hand, negative correlation between trace element concentrations and δ15N values was not observed in the present study. This is an opposite trend compared with the previous studies in which many trace elements showed negative correlation with δ15N values in Sagami Bay and Tohoku Bay. When only crustacean species were considered, concentrations of Al, V, Fe, Co, Mo, Ag, Sb and Pb were positively correlated with δ15N values. This result suggests positively correlated with δ15N values. This result suggests that these heavy metals are bioaccumulated through food web in crustacean species in both Off-Sanninn and Off-Hokuriku. Our results suggest possible ecotoxicological risk by these heavy metals with their increasing discharge to the marine environment.