Platinum in sediments and mussels from the northwestern Mediterranean coast: Temporal and spatial aspects

• Published in: Chemosphere (Oxford) Vol. 215; pp. 783 - 792
• Main Authors: Abdou, Melina, Schäfer, Jörg, Hu, Ruoyu, Gil-Díaz, Teba, Garnier, Cédric, Brach-Papa, Christophe, Chiffoleau, Jean-François, Charmasson, Sabine, Giner, Franck, Dutruch, Lionel, Blanc, Gérard
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.01.2019; Elsevier
• Subjects: Animals; Biomonitoring; Bivalvia - metabolism; Ecosystem; Environmental Monitoring - methods; Environmental Sciences; Geologic Sediments - analysis; Mediterranean coast; Mediterranean Sea; Mussels; Platinum; Platinum - analysis; Seafood - analysis; Seawater - analysis; Sediments; Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis; Mediterranean Sea; Mediterranean coast; Biomonitoring; Sediments; Platinum; Mussels
• ISSN: 0045-6535; 1879-1298
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2018.10.011

Platinum (Pt) is considered a Technology Critical Element (TCE) and an emerging metallic contaminant with increasing release into the environment. Gaps in knowledge and understanding of environmental levels, fate and effects of Pt still exist, especially in the marine environment. This work presents Pt concentrations in the northwestern Mediterranean coast including: (i) temporal variability from sediment cores and farmed mussels in the Toulon Bay (historically affected by intense human activities) and (ii) spatial distribution from recent wild mussels collected along ∼ 700 km coastline with contrasting ecosystems (including natural reserves), quantified using voltammetry and inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. The historical (>100 years) record of Pt in sediments from the Toulon Bay suggests the existence of non-negligible Pt sources older than those related to vehicle emission devices, such as petrol industry and coal-fired activities. A strong Pt increase in more recent sediments (from ∼12 to 16 ng g−1) and mussels (8-fold increase from ∼0.12 to 0.80 ng g−1) covering the past 25 years reflect the overall evolution of Pt demand in Europe (∼20-fold increase for vehicle catalysts in 20 years). Spatial biomonitoring of Pt in mussels along the northwestern Mediterranean coast is assumed to reflect inter-site differences of Pt exposure (0.09–0.66 ng g−1) despite seasonal effect on tissue development. This study highlights the need for thorough and regular monitoring of Pt levels in sediments and biota from urbanized coastal areas in order to better assess the environmental impact of this TCE, including potential risks for marine organisms. •Platinum levels were monitored in contrasting sites of the NW Mediterranean coast.•Historical sediments reflect non-vehicle related, old Pt anthropogenic sources.•Past 25-years sediments and mussels show recent vehicle related Pt contamination.•Biomonitoring mussels reflect the degree of Pt contamination in coastal environment.