Bioaccumulation and depuration of Zn and Cd in mangrove oysters (Crassostrea rhizophorae, Guilding, 1828) transplanted to and from a contaminated tropical coastal lagoon

In order to study Zn and Cd accumulation and depuration, a set of oysters, Crassostrea rhizophorae, were transplanted to a metal contaminated coastal lagoon and another one was harvested there and transplanted to a non-polluted site. C. rhizophorae oysters and Perna perna mussels native from both sites were collected in order to monitor variability of metal concentration in resident populations. After three months exposure, oysters transplanted to the polluted site accumulated fourfold Zn (307–1319 μg g−1) without reaching the concentration level of resident oysters (9770 μg g−1). Cadmium concentrations had a slight but significant decrease during the same period (1.25–0.54 μg g−1). Oysters transplanted to the non-polluted site, showed threefold Zn depuration (6727–2404 μg g−1), while Cd had no significant variation (0.90–1.45 μg g−1). Results showed that transplanted oysters do not reach heavy metal concentrations in indigenous populations suggesting transplanted organisms would be better used to evaluate bioavailability instead of environmental concentrations.