Concentrations of heavy metals in oysters from the coastline of Northern Territory, Australia.

The concentrations of five metals in oysters from ten locations along the Northern Territory coastline were determined during the dry season of 1989. The measured concentrations of iron, cadmium, zinc, manganese and copper in oysers were 11.6-274, 0.17-9.1, 4.79-735, 0.25-69.85 and nd-70.2 µg g(-1) wet weight. The level of cadmium exceeded the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) recommended limit at five sites. The largest fluctuation occurred in zinc and cadmium while the other metals displayed much less variation.