Bioaccumulation of metals in sediment elutriates and their effects on growth, condition index, and metallothionein contents in oyster larvae.

The bioavailability of Cd, Cu, Zn, and Pb from two metal-contaminated sediments (Bidassoa and Dunkerque) was studied using Crassostrea gigas larvae exposed to sediment elutriates. The metal contents within the sediments, the larvae and larval growth, the condition index, and the induction of metallothionein in the larvae were measured. The larval growth and condition index were only affected after exposure to the highest elutriates concentration (5 to 25%) from the most contaminated sediment (Dunkerque). Bioaccumulation of all metals was observed in larvae exposed to Dunkerque elutriatre; only Cu bioaccumulation was observed in the Bidassoa elutriate. The results from larvae exposed to both sediment elutriates show a strong correlation between bioaccumulated metal considered individually or in combination and the metallothionein level in larvae presenting no detrimental effect. On the other hand, in the case of larvae exposed to the highest Dunkerque elutriate concentration and showing the highest metal body burden, we observed a drop in the metallothionein level. These results indicate that metallothionein is a more sensitive indicator of heavy metal pollution than physiological endpoints taken into account in bioassays and could be proposed as an early biomarker of metal exposure in larvae. However, care must be taken with "fault control" due to the toxicological effect on larvae metabolism in the case of substantial contaminant exposure.