Why might oysters harvested from polluted estuaries concentrate heavy metals like cadmium or lead?
Answer
Because they filter vast amounts of water while feeding.
Oysters are filter feeders, meaning their sustenance comes from filtering huge volumes of water through their systems. During this continuous filtering process, if the estuarine environment harbors contaminants such as heavy metals—specifically citing cadmium or lead—the oysters inadvertently concentrate these harmful substances within their tissues. This characteristic underscores why understanding the geographic source of harvest is just as crucial as examining the nutritional label to mitigate risks from environmental exposure.
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