Major and trace elements distribution in bivalve mollusk shells using LA-ICP-MS line scan technique

Mollusk shells are mainly composed of CaCO3 and are formed by a biologically-controlled mineralization that leads to a superimposition of calcified layers. The bicarbonate and calcium ions needed for the biomineralization are provided by food, the water adsorbed by filtration, or directly from the external medium by diffusion. In this way, other cations (i.e. heavy metals) present in water can be incorporated into the shell during its formation; the distribution of these ions through the shell can provide a way to monitor the conditions of the water body during the shell growth.LA-ICP-MS is a well established technique that provides flexibility to perform spatially resolved analyses at the µm scale and also bulk analyses. Furthermore, it provides short analysis times with minimal sample preparation requested. This technique was used in this work to determine the major and trace elements distribution through the different layers of scallop and oyster shells collected in Sacca di Goro (province of Ferrara).