Heavy Metal Accumulation in Oysters from an Aquaculture Area in the Luoyangjiang River Estuary

Abstract

Oysters are a group of economically important bivalves in China, with estuaries serving as one of their primary cultivation areas. However, heavy metal pollution in these estuarine environments poses a potential threat to aquaculture by leading to the accumulation of heavy metals in farmed oysters, which could impact their safety and marketability. This study was conducted in the aquaculture area of the Luoyangjiang River estuary, where eight sampling sites were selected. Water, sediment, and oysters categorized by shell length were collected from each site. The concentrations of heavy metals (Ag, As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn) were determined in both the environmental samples and oyster tissues. Additionally, multiplex species-specific PCR was used to identify oyster species. The results showed significant variations in dissolved-phase and suspended particulate matter (SPM) metal concentrations across different sampling sites, while sediment metal concentrations were more consistent but similar to those in SPM. The large oysters were comprised of 50% Magallana angulata and 50% Magallana gigas, while small oysters were identified as Magallana sikamea. The Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn levels in both size groups of oysters exceeded data from previous studies, indicating contamination in the estuary. The observed differences in heavy metal concentrations between large and small oysters primarily reflect species-specific variability in metal accumulation, which may also be influenced by factors such as growth and exposure duration. Furthermore, the lack of significant correlation between metal concentrations in environmental media and oysters suggests that oysters may be exposed to multiple sources of metal contamination.