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Elemental Status in Sediment and American Oyster Collected from Savannah Marsh/Estuarine Ecosystem: A Preliminary Assessment

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Abstract

Sediment and American oyster (Crassostrea virginica) collected from nine selected marsh/estuarine ecosystems in Savannah, Georgia were analyzed for elements such as Al, As, B, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Si, and Zn. Sediments were extracted by ammonium acetate (NH4OAc), Mehlich-3 (M-3), and water procedures, whereas an acid digestion procedure was adopted for oyster tissue. Concentrations of elements were higher in M-3 extractions followed by NH4OAc and water extraction procedures. Calcium and Mg was greater in sediments by any of the extractions, whereas other elements differed depending upon the extraction procedures. There were no significant spatial variations (p < 0.05) of any of elements analyzed except Mn, in NH4OAc/water extraction procedure and Fe and Al by water extraction procedure. Contamination of Al, B, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Si, and Zn in oyster tissue ranged from 399 to 1460, 231 to 254, <1.5 to 2.9, <1.5 to 8.0, 67 to 121, 232 to 1357, 17 to 54, <0.5 to 0.64, <1.5 to 2.5, <1.5 to 4.0, 241 to 381, and 978 to 2428 μg/g dry weight (dw), respectively. Greatly elevated concentrations of elements such as P, Ca, Mg, K, and S were noticed in oyster tissue. The concentration range of Hg and As in sediment was 1.2–1.9 and 11–55 μg/g dw, respectively. The concentration range of Hg and As in oyster tissue was 130–908 and 200–912 ng/g dw, respectively. With the exception of As and Hg, other elements are several orders of magnitude greater in oyster tissue. There is no significant (p < 0.05) contamination variation in target analyses between the nine selected sites. Concentrations of heavy metals in sediment and oyster were either comparable or lower than those of other countries. Greater biota-sediment accumulation factor was noticed for P and Zn. Concentrations of Hg and P in oyster tissue were higher than the threshold limit for human consumption. Overall, the baseline data can be used for regular ecological monitoring, considering the domestic and industrial growth around this important marsh/estuarine ecosystem.

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Acknowledgments

Part of this study was financially supported by the U.S. National Park Service, Department of Interior (grant/order number P5420050005). Part of this research was performed under the auspices of contract number DE-FG09-96SR18558, United States Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Agency. We wish to thank the management and staff of Bull River Marina for allowing us to use space at their marina for overnight boat docking and for allowing us to load and unload equipment and personnel during the field sampling period. We thank Captain Jay Rosenzweig, Savannah State University, for his cooperation and skill during boat sampling trips.

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  1. Department of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Savannah State University, 3219 College Street, Savannah, GA, 31404, USA

    Kenneth S. Sajwan, Kurunthachalam Senthil Kumar, Sivapatham Paramasivam, Sanya S. Compton & Joseph P. Richardson

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  1. Kenneth S. Sajwan
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Correspondence to Kurunthachalam Senthil Kumar.

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Sajwan, K.S., Kumar, K.S., Paramasivam, S. et al. Elemental Status in Sediment and American Oyster Collected from Savannah Marsh/Estuarine Ecosystem: A Preliminary Assessment. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 54, 245–258 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00244-007-9033-1

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