Metal concentration in oysters from the southern African coast
The survey presented of metal concentrations in Crassostrea margaritacea growing at 25 sites along a 500 km stretch of the South African coast was undertaken to provide data for the national marine pollution monitoring program and to supplement data from sediment and water sampling surveys of the estuaries in the region. Concentrations of Zn, Cd, Cu, Pb, Fe, Mn, Ni, Co, and Cr in C. margaritacea were determined, and the data indicated that some contamination of Victoria Bay environment had occurred; oysters from this site had accumulated Zn, Pb, Ni, Cr, and possibly, Co. Oysters growing at the mouth of the Papenkuils River and the Swartkops River were also found to be contaminated with Zn, Pb, Cu, and Cr, to a lesser extent. C. margaritacea growing at the mouth of the Great Fish River unexpectedly had elevated Cu, Pb, and Cr concentrations. Because there are no urban or industrial developments along the river, it was likely that these elements are derived from leaching of mineralized sequences in the catchment, and a geochemical survey was recommended to ascertain the source of the metals. (JMT)
- Research Organization:
- Univ. of Port Elizabeth, South Africa
- OSTI ID:
- 7090570
- Journal Information:
- Bull. Environ. Contam. Toxicol.; (United States), Vol. 28:4
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
58 GEOSCIENCES
METALS
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
OYSTERS
BIOLOGICAL ACCUMULATION
SOUTH AFRICA
WATER POLLUTION
ABSORPTION SPECTROSCOPY
COASTAL WATERS
ESTUARIES
GEOCHEMICAL SURVEYS
MONITORING
SAMPLING
SEDIMENTS
AFRICA
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
ELEMENTS
INVERTEBRATES
MOLLUSCS
POLLUTION
SPECTROSCOPY
SURFACE WATERS
SURVEYS
520200* - Environment
Aquatic- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)
580400 - Geochemistry- (-1989)