Heavy metal concentrations in some gastropods and bivalves collected from the fishing zone of South India.
The present study investigates heavy metal concentrations in gastropods and bivalves collected from major fishing centers in South India. Three gastropods, Bursa spinosa, Tibia curta, and Murex trapa, and two bivalves, Perna viridis and Villoritta cyprinoids, were collected for the analysis of heavy metals. The metals in the present study followed the order Mg>Ca>Zn>Fe>Cu>Mn>Cr>Pb>Ni>Co>Cd. Trace metal concentrations in the soft tissue of the molluscs varied as follows: for Cd: 0.04-5.33, Co: 0.09-0.87, Cr: 2.18-7.59, Cu: 9.54-37.02, Mn: 1.30-8.50, Ni: 0.94-3.21, Pb: 1.16-2.64 and Zn: 68.16-113.64mgkg-1. Metal concentrations in all the species were below the limits proposed by the World Health Organization, except for Pb and Cd. This baseline study suggests that the levels of toxic metals in M. trapa, T. curta, and B. spinosa should be continuously monitored to assess the fate and effects of these metals in this fragile ecosystem.
Department of Chemical Oceanography, School of Marine Sciences, Cochin University of Science and Technology, Cochin 682016, India. Electronic address: ragi@cusat.ac.in.
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AS
Ragi
Department of Chemical Oceanography, School of Marine Sciences, Cochin University of Science and Technology, Cochin 682016, India.
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PP
Leena
Department of Chemical Oceanography, School of Marine Sciences, Cochin University of Science and Technology, Cochin 682016, India. Electronic address: eldhosecheriyan@cusat.ac.in.
Eldhose
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Cheriyan
Department of Chemical Oceanography, School of Marine Sciences, Cochin University of Science and Technology, Cochin 682016, India. Electronic address: muralis@cusat.ac.in.
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SM
Nair
D000818:Animals; D017753:Ecosystem; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005398:Fisheries; D049851:Gastropoda; D007194:India; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis*; D008974:Mollusca; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000032:analysis; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
D019216:Metals, Heavy; D014131:Trace Elements; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
Bivalves; Fishing zone; Gastropods; Heavy metals