Passive biomonitoring study and effect biomarker in oysters Crassostrea brasiliana (Lamark, 1819: Mollusca, Bivalvia) in Santos and Cananéia Estuaries in São Paulo State, Brazil

Abstract

This study assessed the exposure and effects of trace elements in sentinel organisms, using the bivalve Crassostrea brasiliana in two estuarine areas in Sa˜o Paulo State, Brazil: Santos Estuary and Canane´ia Estuary, site of oyster farms, which was used as reference site. Oysters were evaluated for bioaccumulation of As, Co, Cr, Fe, Se and Zn by INAA and Cd, Pb and Hg by AAS. Effect biomarker was assessed by evaluation of lysosomal membrane stability. In the study of bioaccumulation of trace elements it was verified that Santos Channel presented the largest concentrations of elements studied in most cases. From the study of the cellular biomarker, it was verified that Santos Channel and winter showed higher stress to organisms in the present study.