Abstract
The littoral lagoons of the Gulf of Mexico have been investigated to determine the amount of heavy metal pollution. Some lagoons have been contaminated by liquid wastes mainly originating from sugar refining and petrochemical industries, as well as petroleum exploitation and refining. Since mollusks concentrate trace elements, determination of levels of Cd, Cr, Hg, and Pb in oysters (Crassostrea virginica) were measured in some of these lagoons. The results have shown that the concentrations of these metals in lagoon water were below the recommended levels to protect aquatic life, and it was found that oysters are able to concentrate metals, mainly Cd and Pb above the maximum permissible limits for edible consumption.
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Rosas, I., Báez, A. & Belmont, R. Oyster (Crassostrea virginica) as indicator of heavy metal pollution in some lagoons of the Gulf of Mexico. Water Air Soil Pollut 20, 127–135 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00279623
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00279623