Study of the bioaccumulation pattern of heavy metals in the soft tissue of rocky oyster (Saccostrea cucullata) on the northern coast of Makoran sea

Abstract

Introduction: The use of bivalves as bioindicator species to assess marine environmental pollution has always been of interest to researchers.
Materials & Methods: In this study, the accumulation of heavy metals of copper, nickel and cadmium in the soft tissue of rocky oyster (Saccostrea cucullata) during the two seasons of autumn 2020 and spring 2021 in 4 stations of Gowatr, Beris, Ramin and Tis on the northern shores of Makoran Sea was investigated. After sampling and separating of soft tissue, according to standard instructions, it was dried, weighed and chemically digested, and the concentration of metals was determined by atomic absorption spectrometry.
Results: According to the results, in both autumn and spring, the accumulation pattern was copper <nickel <cadmium, and a significant difference was observed between the seasons (p<0.05). In autumn, among the stations, the highest value was for copper metal, Gowatr (268.48±61.42), nickel ramin pier (9.06±0.75) and cadmium tis pier (0.182±0.09 μg/g dry weight) also in spring, for Ramin copper metal (229.82±49.19) for nickel goiter metal (14.72±4.21) and for cadmium metal (0.095±0.002 μg/g dry weight) The highest values were recorded. There was a significant difference between stations in each season (p<0.05). Copper metal has always had the highest accumulation in soft tissue due to its necessity.
Conclusion: Compared to international standard FAO, nickel metal had a higher concentration, which due to the lack of related industries in the study area, the natural origin can be the main reason for its existence.