Bioaccumulation of heavy metals in the terrestrial isopod Porcellionides pruinosus in the vicinity of Gabes-Ghannouch industrial complex

Abstract

The current study reports the effects of heavy metals issued from the emissions of phosphate and their bioaccumulation in the soils, leaf litter, and the terrestrial isopod Porcellionides pruinosus in the vicinity of Gabes-Ghannouch industrial complex. Cd, Pb, Zn, and Cu concentrations were measured in soils, leaf litter, and P. pruinosus individuals, collected from four stations located at different distances from the factory. Results showed that heavy metal concentrations in soils varied from one site to another and did not reflect those measured in individuals. In contrast, a positive correlation was found between the isopods’ body length and the distance from the pollution source, revealing the isopod sensitivity to the soil metal concentrations. The bioaccumulation factor was calculated using soil and leaf litter as a solid support with the aim of ordering the metal accumulation in P. pruinosus for each site. Overall, P. pruinosus could be defined as a macroconcentrator of Cd, Zn, and Cu (BAF?>?2) and as a deconcentrator of Pb (BAF?