Green oysters occurring in an industrial harbor in Central Taiwan

Green oysters were found within the Mailiao industrial harbor (MIH) located in Central Taiwan. The metal concentrations in seawater (dissolved and particulate phases), sediment and oyster samples collected within the MIH were analyzed to examine the green oysters. The dissolved and particulate metal concentrations ranged within 0.008-1.47 μg l− 1 and 0.97-799.2 mg kg− 1, respectively. The Cu concentration in seawater was dominated in the dissolved phase. In contrast, Cr, Pb and Zn in seawater were chiefly present in the particulate phase. The metal concentrations in sediment and oyster samples ranged within 0.02-148.4 mg kg− 1 and 0.18-1238 mg kg− 1 (dry W.), respectively. No anomalous values were found in the analyzed samples, except the Cu content in the oyster samples ranged within 274-1238 mg kg− 1. The relatively high bioconcentration factor of Cu in oyster and the longer exposure time induced the green oysters occurred within the MIH.