DefinePK

Abstract

Background and Objective In recent years, like many other Mediterranean coasts, the Gulf of Annaba, located in the North Eastern coast of Algeria and extreme South Eastern of the Mediterranean has been subjected to significant urban, agricultural and industrial extension that might have affected the exploitation of its maritime resources and contaminated its coastal environments. The objective of this study was to follow a seasonal assessment of contamination by trace metals zinc, copper, nickel and chromium was made using the tissues of seagrass Posidonia oceanica and the superficial sediment. Methodology Sampling was conducted seasonally from October, 2009 to September, 2010 in two sites from the Gulf of Annaba Lacaroube and Lehnaya, individuals harvest were dissected roots, rhizome and mature leaves and 500 g to 1 kg of superficial sediment were harvested. Therefore, analyses were carried out by atomic absorption spectrophotometry Air acetylene. Results From the results obtained, the Metal Pollution Index MPI demonstrated that sediment and seagrasses in the urban site of Lacaroube had the most abundant metal concentrations. There was obvious seasonal variation of these metals in compartments of seagrass roots, rhizome and mature leaves and superficial sediments with higher concentrations of Zn and Ni especially in winter. Conclusion The study of the biological response of this marine plant to chemical pollutants and in particular to metallic elements in the marine environment, represents a new tool that is not intended to duplicate or replace chemical monitoring but integrated into the monitoring programs of this environment. In addition to physicochemical analysis, the biological indicator can act as an early warning system for a contamination whose effects are still reversible.