Biomonitoring of heavy metal contamination along the salento Coast (Italy) by metallothionein evaluation in Mytilus galloprovincialis and mullus barbatus

1) The aim of the present study was to identify possible ecotoxicological risk by heavy metal contamination along the coast of the Salento Peninsula (South of ITALY) evaluating levels of metallothioneins, by a spectrophotometric method, in two bioindicator species: Mytilus galloprovincialis and Mullus barbatus. 2) Data obtained allow to conclude that coastal marine environment of Salento is, on the whole, not yet interested by heavy metals pollution with the exception of the hot spot place of Brindisi.