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Appl Environ Microbiol. 1975 July; 30(1): 91-96
Copyright © 1975 American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Role of Bacteria in Bioaccumulation of Mercury in the Oyster Crassostrea virginica

Department of Microbiology, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742

ABSTRACT

An investigation of mercury-resistant bacteria was undertaken to determine their role in the accumulation of mercury in a simplified food chain. Oysters (Crassostrea virginica) were maintained in a closed system, sealed aquarium with stirred, aerated water containing 10 µg of ²⁰³HgCl₂ per liter. Uptake of ²⁰³Hg by oysters held under control conditions was compared with that of ²⁰³Hg uptake by oysters under similar conditions except that mercury-accumulating and mercury-metabolizing species of Pseudomonas, isolated from Chesapeake Bay, were added to the experimental oysters. After incubation for 4 days, the major portion of the ²⁰³Hg in the water column was found to be associated with the microparticulate fraction, corresponding to a rise in total viable count. Mercury accumulation in the oysters was significantly higher in the gill and visceral tissue than other tissues. Mercury concentrations were 200 times greater in tissue fractions of oysters dosed with mercury-metabolizing bacteria compared with the oysters held under control conditions without mercury-metabolizing bacteria.