HISTOPATHOLOGY AND BIOACCUMULATION IN OYSTERS CRASSOSTREA-VIRGINICA LIVING ON WOOD PRESERVED WITH CHROMATED COPPER ARSENATE

Oysters Crassostrea virginica living inside a residential canal lined with chromated copper arsenate (CCA) treated wood had elevated levels of metals, especially copper, and were sometimes green in color. Compared to reference oysters collected from nearby rocks, these oysters had an elevated prevalence of a previously described histopathological atrophic condition (metaplasia) of the digestive diverticula. The condition did not manifest itself, however, in reference site oysters that were transplanted into the canal for a 3 mo period, during which time they attained an average of two-thirds of the resident canal oysters' copper level.