Heavy metal concentrations in the oysters Saccostrea cuccullata and Saccostrea sp. from the Dampier Archipelago, Western Australia

Abstract

Ranges of concentrations (mg kg-1 wet wt) of Ag (0-0.4), Cd (0-0.8), Co (not detected), Cr (0-0.8), Mn (0.4-3.2), Ni (0.2-1 .7) and Pb (0-1 .7) were determined in S. cuccullata and Saccostrea sp. (probably S. commercialis) from several locations in the Dampier Archipelago and nearby Cape Lambert. Concentrations of Cu and Zn in individual specimens of these oysters ranged from 1.4 to 555 and from 55 to 1800 mg kg-1 wet weight, respectively, reached their maximum values at localized areas adjacent to the Dampier township and iron-ore exporting terminals at Dampier and Cape Lambert, and correlated significantly with length and wet weight. Fe concentrations in individual oysters throughout the Archipelago, which is the centre of an iron-ore exporting industry, ranged from 4.2 to 1629 mg kg-1 wet weight and did not correlate significantly with oyster length or wet weight.