Oysters, Crassostrea rhizophorae, were reciprocally transplanted to two different sites: a contaminated site in the Cotegipe Channel at Aratu Bay and an uncontaminated site at Cacha-Prego, inside and outside of Todos os Santos Bay (Brazil), respectively. Trace metal accumulation was measured after 0, 15, 30, and 60 days of exposure at the contaminated site. Oysters transplanted for 60 days from the clean to the contaminated site had accumulated cadmium and lead to similar concentrations as found in the native oysters. They had also accumulated copper and zinc, but to lower levels compared to native specimens. Elimination experiments were carried out by transplanting oysters in the reverse direction. After 30 days, concentrations of cadmium and lead had decreased to levels comparable to those in the native specimen, whereas concentrations of copper and zinc did not diminish. A second elimination experiment, bringing back to Cacha-Prego oysters that had been exposed 60 days at Cotegipe Channel, indicated stronger decreases of copper and lead, but no clear changes of cadmium and zinc concentrations. The accumulation experiment with C. rhizophorae is useful to estimate trace metal bioavailability and changes in concentrations as a function of time at the contaminated site. The different results of elimination experiments in the uncontaminated site suggest different degrees of trace metal fixation after long-term and short-term accumulation periods.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.