Accumulation of copper in the tissues of Chlamys farreri and its effects on the activity of superoxide dismutase in the seawater

An exposure experiment was conducted to study the effects of different concentrations of copper (Cu²⁺) on copper accumulation and activities of Super Oxide Dismutase(SOD) in gills, muscle and viscera of Chlamys farreri. The results showed that copper accumulation in the tissues increased significantly with the increase of copper concentration in the seawater, the order of copper accumulation in the tissues of Chlamys farreri was as follows from high to low: viscera, gills and muscle. Copper concentration has significant effect on the activity of SOD and it indicates the law of restraint-induction-restraint with the increase of copper concentration. Such results show that the activity of SOD responses sensitively to the copper contamination and it is a reliable indicator of copper pollution. The optimum selective tissue for the indication of copper contamination on Chlamys farreri should be gills, followed by viscera.