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

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,...

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Main Authors: Yizhou Ke, Changchun Ou, Xiaoyu Guo, Shuyi Liu, Chenlu Yao, Bo Shi, Huayong Que
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-08-01
Series:Toxics
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6304/12/9/645
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author Yizhou Ke
Changchun Ou
Xiaoyu Guo
Shuyi Liu
Chenlu Yao
Bo Shi
Huayong Que
author_facet Yizhou Ke
Changchun Ou
Xiaoyu Guo
Shuyi Liu
Chenlu Yao
Bo Shi
Huayong Que
author_sort Yizhou Ke
collection DOAJ
description 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% <i>Magallana angulata</i> and 50% <i>Magallana gigas</i>, while small oysters were identified as <i>Magallana sikamea</i>. 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.
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spelling doaj-art-e8fe677c4a144bae827b66c9f77800542025-08-20T01:55:53ZengMDPI AGToxics2305-63042024-08-0112964510.3390/toxics12090645Heavy Metal Accumulation in Oysters from an Aquaculture Area in the Luoyangjiang River EstuaryYizhou Ke0Changchun Ou1Xiaoyu Guo2Shuyi Liu3Chenlu Yao4Bo Shi5Huayong Que6Key Laboratory of Healthy Mariculture for the East China Sea, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Jimei University, Xiamen 361021, ChinaKey Laboratory of Healthy Mariculture for the East China Sea, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Jimei University, Xiamen 361021, ChinaCollege of Oceanology and Food Science, Quanzhou Normal University, Quanzhou 362000, ChinaKey Laboratory of Healthy Mariculture for the East China Sea, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Jimei University, Xiamen 361021, ChinaKey Laboratory of Healthy Mariculture for the East China Sea, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Jimei University, Xiamen 361021, ChinaKey Laboratory of Healthy Mariculture for the East China Sea, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Jimei University, Xiamen 361021, ChinaKey Laboratory of Healthy Mariculture for the East China Sea, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Jimei University, Xiamen 361021, ChinaOysters 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% <i>Magallana angulata</i> and 50% <i>Magallana gigas</i>, while small oysters were identified as <i>Magallana sikamea</i>. 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.https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6304/12/9/645oysterheavy metalaccumulationestuary
spellingShingle Yizhou Ke
Changchun Ou
Xiaoyu Guo
Shuyi Liu
Chenlu Yao
Bo Shi
Huayong Que
Heavy Metal Accumulation in Oysters from an Aquaculture Area in the Luoyangjiang River Estuary
Toxics
oyster
heavy metal
accumulation
estuary
title Heavy Metal Accumulation in Oysters from an Aquaculture Area in the Luoyangjiang River Estuary
title_full Heavy Metal Accumulation in Oysters from an Aquaculture Area in the Luoyangjiang River Estuary
title_fullStr Heavy Metal Accumulation in Oysters from an Aquaculture Area in the Luoyangjiang River Estuary
title_full_unstemmed Heavy Metal Accumulation in Oysters from an Aquaculture Area in the Luoyangjiang River Estuary
title_short Heavy Metal Accumulation in Oysters from an Aquaculture Area in the Luoyangjiang River Estuary
title_sort heavy metal accumulation in oysters from an aquaculture area in the luoyangjiang river estuary
topic oyster
heavy metal
accumulation
estuary
url https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6304/12/9/645
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