Kinetics of Aromatic Hydrocarbon Depuration by Oysters Impacted by the Amoco Cadiz Oil Spill

After oil spills, various species of filter-feeding bivalve molluscs have been shown t o absorb petroleum hydrocarbons from the water column and suspended particulate matter. There have been numerous published studies in which hydrocarbon concentrations in oil exposed bivalves have been measured both in the field and in the laboratory(for reviews see 1,2,3). Given the commercial value of such species as clams, oysters, and mussels, it is important to understand the kinetics of oil depuration from bivalve tissues with the goal of possible salvage of impacted animals and to understand the basic physiological processes involved.