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An Impact-Control Study to Assess the Potential Accumulation of Metals and Metalloids from Sewage Effluent and Biosolids to Sydney Rock Oysters, Saccostrea glomerata

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Abstract

Sewage effluent has been identified as a potential source of metal(loid) contamination in the aquatic environment. The Sydney rock oyster, Saccostrea glomerata, can accumulate most metals and is well established as a biomonitor of metals in the marine environment. To determine if Burwood Beach wastewater treatment works (WWTW) is a source of metal(loid) contamination, S. glomerata was deployed for 6 weeks in effluent receiving waters (Burwood Beach near and Burwood Beach far) and at reference locations (Redhead, Fingal Island 1 and Fingal Island 2) at depths 4, 8 and 12 m. In dried oyster tissue, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICPMS) was employed to measure concentrations of a suite of metal(loid)s including aluminium, arsenic, cadmium, copper, lead, iron, manganese, mercury, nickel, selenium, silver and zinc. It was found that for all metal(loid)s, S. glomerata tissue concentrations were not significantly higher at Burwood Beach locations in comparison to all reference locations. Concentrations of metal(loid)s were similar to those which have been detected in previous studies of background locations in New South Wales (NSW). Further, all metals fell below National Food Authority maximum residue levels (MRLs), except for arsenic and this does not appear uncommon for concentrations in biota within NSW. Comparisons to historical data suggested that concentrations of metal(loid)s in sewage effluent from Burwood Beach WWTW, assessed via concentrations in oyster tissue, are similar or lower, suggesting that changes in treatment processes initiated in the intervening time have lowered metallic inputs.

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Acknowledgments

Gratitude is extended to individuals that significantly contributed to this project including: Bruce Cole from Hunter Water, Dr. Michael Dove, Steve O’Connor and Kyle Johnston from Industry and Investment NSW, Bruce Petersen from Port Stephens Council, Dr. Peter Scanes, Richard Gardiner and Joe Neilson from the New South Wales Environmental Protection Authority.

Funding

We would like to acknowledge funding sources including the Australian Research Council, New South Wales Department of Primary Industries, Hunter Water Corporation and Port Stephens Council.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Hunter Water Corporation, Honeysuckle Drive, Newcastle, NSW, 2300, Australia

    M. N. Andrew-Priestley

  2. New South Wales Department of Primary Industries, Port Stephens Research Institute, Taylors Beach, NSW, 2316, Australia

    W. A. O’Connor

  3. School of Environmental and Life Sciences, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, 2308, Australia

    R. H. Dunstan & G. R. MacFarlane

Authors
  1. M. N. Andrew-Priestley
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  2. W. A. O’Connor
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  3. R. H. Dunstan
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  4. G. R. MacFarlane
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to G. R. MacFarlane.

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The study was in part funded by Hunter Water Corporation and M. Andrew-Priestley is now an employee of Hunter Water Corporation.

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Andrew-Priestley, M.N., O’Connor, W.A., Dunstan, R.H. et al. An Impact-Control Study to Assess the Potential Accumulation of Metals and Metalloids from Sewage Effluent and Biosolids to Sydney Rock Oysters, Saccostrea glomerata. Water Air Soil Pollut 231, 197 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-020-04570-6

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