Bioconcentration of trace metals by Saccostrea cucullata (von Born 1778) from Andaman waters

Assessment of trace metals (Zn, Cu, Fe, Pb and Ni) in water, sediment and an oyster, Saccostrea cucullata, was carried out in five stations around Port Blair. Concentration of these metals in water, sediment and the oyster exhibited wide variations. Among the selected locations, Fisheries Jetty exhibited the highest concentration of trace metals, as a consequence of the numerous fishing vessels harboured at this station. Zinc was the highest bioconcentrated trace metal (BCF sub(mw),460.39 - 2474.72; BCF sub(ms), 24.60 - 641.96) in all the five stations, probably due to the role of several zinc metalloenzymes in shell mineralization of oysters. Unlike this, the bioconcentration factor of Pb was very low in spite of its relatively high concentrations in both, water as well as sediment.