CONCLUSION
Exposure to high (270 g L−1) concentrations of dissolved lead reduced total oyster growth in P. imbricata. Importantly, high (270g L−1) concentrations of lead significantly reduced shell growth and altered the visible appearance of the shell, the first demonstrated case of pollutant-impeded biomineralization in pearl oysters.However, intermediate concentrations (10–90 g L−1) of lead and zinc actually stimulated shell width growth. Exposure to the aliphatic hydrocarbons hexadecane and octacosane had no effect on the total oyster growth. However, exposure to moderate (30–270 ng L−1) concentrations of the long chain hydrocarbon octacosane significantly increased shell width growth. The results of this study demonstrate the general tolerance of P. imbricata to the pollutants lead, zinc, hexadecane and octacosane.