Bioaccumulation and potential for biomagnification of CoEC in Mediterranean Sea waters

Our lab continues to support a wide range of interesting research around the world, including this project for the Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, focused on the bioaccumulation and potential for biomagnification of CoEC in Mediterranean Sea waters.

The research was conducted under our previous trading name, Sercon Analytical.

We undertook carbon and nitrogen isotope analysis was undertaken by Elemental Analysis – Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry (EA-IRMS). The reference material used for δ13C and δ15N analysis of was IA-R068 (soy protein, δ13CV-PDB = -25.22 ‰, δ15NAIR = 0.99 ‰). IA-R068, IA-R069 (tuna protein, δ13CV-PDB = -18.88 ‰, δ15NAIR = 11.60 ‰) and a mixture of IAEA-C7 (oxalic acid, δ13CV-PDB = -14.48 ‰) and IA-R045 (ammonium sulphate, δ15NAIR = -4.71 ‰) were run as quality control check samples during analysis.

The abstract of this research is below and the full paper can be downloaded here.

Abstract:

“… a comprehensive study on the bioaccumulation and biomagnification of Contaminants of Emerging Concern (CoECs) within the marine food web of the Saronikos Gulf, eastern Mediterranean. Conducted in September 2023, the study involved the collection and analysis of 17 marine species, including fish, crustaceans, cephalopods, and zooplankton. Chemical and stable isotope analyses (δ¹⁵N and δ¹³C) established a food web covering 2.5 trophic levels (2.0 4.9). The research focused on four per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), total mercury (THg), and selected trace metals. While ΣPFAS concentrations were below regulatory seafood safety limits (EU Regulation 2023/915), 75% exceeded the proposed EFSA Environmental Quality Standard. No consistent PFAS bioaccumulation pattern was observed with age, and biodilution trends were apparent in demersal species, likely due to dominant bioconcentration pathways. In contrast, THg showed clear age-related bioaccumulation and trophic biomagnification, with concentrations increasing fivefold per trophic level. Arsenic and rubidium also demonstrated magnification trends across the food web. These findings underscore the complex contaminant dynamics in benthic ecosystems and emphasize the need to integrate bioconcentration and trophic processes in environmental risk assessments.”

For further information on our isotope analyses which can support a wide range of research, please email us.