ABSTRACT
Heavy metal concentrations of Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ni, Zn, Co, and Pb were investigated in soft tissues of Mytilus galloprovincialis coming from an aquaculture farm in Cala Iris sea of AlHoceima. Mytilus galloprovincialis were collected monthly during the period January to December 2016. The seasonal variations were affected significantly the concentrations of metals (Cd, Fe and Cr) in M. galloprovincialis. The highest heavy metal concentrations were recorded in winter (0.89â¯mg/kg, 673.2 and 3.330â¯mg/kg; for Cd, Fe and Cr, respectively) and the lowest values were founded in summer for Cd (0.646â¯mg/kg), and in autumn for Fe (340.1â¯mg/kg) and Cr (1.959â¯mg/kg). A significant effect of seasons on metal concentrations can be attributed to a number of biological and environmental inter-related factors. Data from this study may provide information on the use of M. galloprovincialis as a bioindicator for heavy metals pollution in the Cala Iris Sea.
