J. Exp. Zool. India Vol. 14, No. 2, pp. 507-511, 2011 ISSN 0972-0030

HEAVY METALS LOAD IN CLAM MERETRIX MERETRIX FROM RATNAGIRI COAST

G. D. Suryawanshi, A. M. Shaikh* and V. R. Ragade** Department of Zoology, Yogeshwari Mahavidyalaya, Ambajogai, Beed-431517, India. *Department of Zoology, I. C. S. College, Khed, Dist. Ratnagiri-415909, India. ** Department of Zoology, V. G. Vage College, Mulund (E), Mumbai - 400 081, India (Accepted 27 May 2011)

ABSTRACT – Clams Meretrix meretrix of medium (44.66 mm shell length) sizes from Kalbadevi creek at Ratnagiri were collected in monsoon, winter and summer seasons. The soft body parts on dry weight basis showed more amounts of zinc (µg/gm) during monsoon from mantle (146.39) followed by gill (122.03), hepatopancreas (116.11), gonad (112.66), siphon (111.64) and adductor muscle (108.51). The lead content was more in adductor muscle (16.32) followed by siphon (14.80), gill (14.04), hepatopancreas (13.66), gonad (13.28), and mantle (9.49). The cadmium was more in gill (0.57) and remaining body parts the metal was not detected in monsoon. The copper metal showed more in hepatopancreas (1.54) followed by gill (1.51), gonad (1.45), adductor muscle (1.37), siphon (1.32) and mantle (1.08). The zinc metal during winter was more in gill (121.71) followed by mantle (110.10), gonad (107.39), hepatopancreas (104.33), siphon (99.91) and adductor muscle (99.82). The lead content was more in gill (24.28) than siphon (19.59), adductor muscle (18.35), mantle (18.21), hepatopancreas (17.08) and gonad (11.21). The cadmium was more in hepatopancreas (7.48) than gill (5.64), siphon (5.40), adductor muscle (5.32), gonad (4.32) and mantle (1.52). The copper metal showed more in adductor muscle (1.86) than gill (1.80), hepatopancreas (1.67) siphon (1.64), gonad (1.49) and mantle (1.35). During summer zinc metal was more in mantle (107.49) followed by hepatopancreas (103.24), gill (96.46), adductor muscle (94.29), siphon (91.16), and gonad (86.57). The lead content was more in gonad (13.26) followed by gill (13.02), siphon (12.14), hepatopancreas (11.04), adductor muscle (9.11) and mantle (8.35). The cadmium was more in gill (1.8) and remained tissues not detected the cadmium content during summer. The copper metal showed more in hepatopancreas (1.23) followed by gills (1.09), adductor muscle (1.01), mantle (0.98), gonad (0.78) and siphon (0.15). Among the metals zinc was high in monsoon followed by winter and summer seasons. The level of lead was high in winter and low in summer. The cadmium metal was not detected in monsoon and summer except the gills. The copper metals was high in winter and low level found in summer.

Key Words : Clams, Meretrix meretrix, body parts, heavy metals.

INTRODUCTION adequate information on local discharges and seasonal Amongst several pollutants the metals are natural variation in concentration of contaminants including heavy constituents of the marine environment. Some of them metals. High levels of metals in molluscs have been are biologically essential but other like cadmium, lead and reported from different parts of the world (De Gregori et mercury, called heavy metals, are highly hazardous to al, 1994; Umadevi, 1996; Wang and Ke, 2002, marine biota and normally occur in low concentrations. Suryawanshi, 2008). Coimbra and Carraca (1990) studied However, in estuaries receiving industrial wastes, they the accumulation of iron, zinc, copper and cadmium during are often found in high concentrations. As a results the the different stages of the reproductive cycle in Mytilus concentration of heavy metals in coastal waters is likely edulis. The bivalve mollusks are known to accumulate to be high which could be harmful to marine biota. Review metal ions from the environment to a very high level of literature shows that cadmium is found to be a relative to the concentration in water and those elements significant and harmful contaminant of the aquatic of most concern are cadmium, copper, mercury and lead environment. Marine biota especially oysters, clams, (Nambison et al, 1977). Mohite (2002) studied the base mussels and gastropods, which play an important role in level of heavy metals in the green mussel Perna viridis aquatic food webs, have proved to be very sensitive to during different seasons. Amongst the shellfishes the heavy metals showing different effects at low bivalve mollusks appear to have particularly high capability concentrations. These effects may be caused by heavy for concentrating metals in their body along with other metal accumulation in body. Metals released into foreign materials found in their environment when they environment may be bioconcentrated by bivalves. Year filter food particles during feeding. The present study was around monitoring of these shellfishes may provide taken up to understand the distribution and seasonal 508 G.D. Suryawanshi et al variations of zinc, lead, cadmium and copper in Meretrix for them to be fixed in different tissues and not to be meretrix inhabiting Kalbadevi creek at Ratnagiri coast of excreted so they have a large biological half life. This Maharashtra. phenomenon is important in assessing the seasonal MATERIALS AND METHODS changes in the availability of metals in an estuarine organism. Since filter feeder such as mollusks can take Meretrix meretrix were collected with help of metal from the ambient water and inorganic particulates, fishermen from Kalbadevi creek at Ratnagiri during the seasonal fluctuation in metal availability in such monsoon (August), winter (December) and summer bivalves may be a composite function of these factors. In (May). Soon after the fishing, they were brought to the the present study from different body parts of medium laboratory and they were then stocked in continuous sized clams showed high amount of metals in monsoon aerated filtered seawater for 24 to 48 hours for depuration. and low in summer. The more amounts of zinc during The five individuals of medium sized (46.66mm) with shell monsoon was from mantle (146.39) followed by gill length were sacrificed separately to obtain soft body parts. (122.03), hepatopancreas (116.11), gonad (112.66), siphon The body parts were weighed and it was then kept in hot (111.64) and adductor muscle (108.51). The lead content air oven at 92°C till constant weight was obtained. The was more in adductor muscle (16.32) followed by siphon dried product was ground to obtain fine powder for (14.80), gill (14.04), hepatopancreas (13.66), gonad determination of metals. For determination of the metals, (13.28), and mantle (9.49). The cadmium was more in 500 mg dry material of the clams was digested with 10 gill (0.57) and remaining body parts the metal was not ml mixture of nitric acid and perchloric acid (4:1) at 100oC detected in monsoon. The copper metal showed more in temperature till a clear solution was obtained. The samples hepatopancreas (1.54) followed by gill (1.51), gonad (1.45), were cooled at room temperature and filtered through adductor muscle (1.37), siphon (1.32) and mantle (1.08). Whattaman No. 43 filter paper and these filtrates were In winter, generally the metal content was decreased then diluted with 0.1N HNO up to 25 ml with deionized 3 when compared with those found in monsoon. The zinc water. These solutions were analyzed for zinc, lead, content decreased more from mantle (17.28%, P < 0.001) cadmium and copper metals using atomic absorption followed by siphon (10.51%, P < 0.01), hepatopancreas spectrophotometer according to the standard methods by (10.15%), adductor muscle (8.01%) (all at P < 0.001), (APHA, 1989). The data obtained were statistically gonad (4.68%, P < 0.05) and gill (0.27%) when compared analyzed for confirmation of the results and expressed in with monsoon. The lead content decreased more from µg/g dry tissue. mantle siphon (132.37%, P < 0.05) followed by mantle RESULTS AND DISCUSSION (91.89%, P < 0.05), gill (72.94%, P < 0.001), gonad The source of heavy metal pollution in aquatic (29.60%, P < 0.05) hepatopancreas (25.04%, P < 0.001) ecosystems are geobiological, weathering, industrial and adductor muscle (12.44%, P < 0.05) when compared processing of ores, metal leaching of metals from garbage with monsoon. The cadmium decreased more from gill and solid waste dumps, the use of metals and components, (889.48%, P < 0.01) and remained tissues not detected and animal and human excretion which contain heavy cadmium content when compared with monsoon. metal. Various chemicals from the industries and domestic Whereas, the copper metal decreased more from adductor discharges are finding their ways into every possible muscle (26.35%, P < 0.05) followed by siphon (26.16, P concern of ecosystems. Among certain elements causing < 0.05), mantle (25.0%), gill (19.21%, P < 0.01), health hazards, cadmium is the middle member of periodic hepatopancreas (8.45%, P < 0.05) and gonad (2.76%) subgroup, consisting of zinc, cadmium and mercury with when compared with monsoon. intermediate properties. For a proper understanding of Where as, in present study, it is revealed that the the effect of these metals on human population a metals content found more in monsoon, followed by winter comprehensive study of these metals dynamics with and summer. Generally, it is observed that the higher metal regard to the flow of these metals in the environment, content was observed during when the creek received their biomagnifications through food webs, and their heavy freshwater influx during monsoon. The high and effects on various biological processes in diverse low amount of content of metals were found in clams organisms must be recognized for any meaningful collected during month of August and May respectively, management of heavy metal pollution. Several possible which coincide with the peak of monsoon and summer in causes of different types of interactions affecting the this region. At Ratnagiri heavy rainfall was noted during toxicity of metals to the shellfishes are discussed (Sadiq, monsoon rains and influx bring heavy load of land drainage 1992), because of the ability of many metals to form and created turbidity that is likely to be impregnated with complexes with organic substances, there is a tendency heavy metals. Thus, monsoon influx in the Kalbadevi Table 1 : The base levels of metals in different body parts of clam Meretrix meretrix in different seasons.

Monsoon Winter Summer

Body parts Zinc Lead Cadmium Copper Zinc Lead Cadmium Copper Zinc Lead Cadmium Copper

Mantle 146.39 9.49 N. D. 1.08 121.10 18.21 1.52 1.35 107.49 8.35 N.D. 0.98 ±0.52 ±3.48 ±0.17 ±1.67 ±1.98 ±0.19 ±0.03 ±0.04 ±0.66 ±0.56 (17.28%)*** (91.89%)* (25.0%) (26.58%)*** (12.02%) (9.26%)

(11.24%)qqq (54.15%)qqq (27.41%)

Gill 122.03 14.04 0.57 1.51 121.71 24.28 5.64 1.80 96.46 13.028 1.8 1.09 ±0.89 ±1.74 ±0.31 ±0.03 ±1.87 ±0.66 ±0.32 ±0.10 ±2.93 ±0.31 ±0.44 ±0.78 (0.27%) (72.94%)*** (889.48%)*** (19.21%)** (20.96%)*** (5.42%) (215.79%)* (27.82%) Heavy metalsloadinaClam (20.75%)qqq (45.31%)qqq (68.09%)qqq (39.45%)

Hepatopancreas 116.11 13.66 N. D. 1.54 104.33 17.08 7.48 1.67 103.24 11.04 N.D. 1.23 ±1.33 ±2.02 ±0.06 ±1.72 ±1.98 ±0.19 ±0.05 ±0.24 ±1.14 ±0.88 (10.15%)*** (25.04%)*** (8.45%)* (11.08%)*** (19.19%) (20.13%)

(1.05%) (35.37%)q (26.35%)

Adductor muscle 108.51 16.32 N. D. 1.37 99.82 18.35 5.32 1.86 94.29 9.11 N.D. 1.01 ±1.10 ±1.14 ±0.03 ±0.97 ±0.02 ±0.25 ±0.06 ±1.88 ±1.14 ±1.02 (8.01%)*** (12.44%)* (26.35%)*** (13.11%)*** (44.18%)** (26.28%)

(5.54%)q (50.36%)qqq (45.70%)

Siphon 111.64 14.80 N. D. 1.320 99.91 19.59 5.4 1.64 91.16 12.14 N.D. 0.15 ±2.33 ±1.98 ±0.03 ±1.28 ±1.30 ±0.24 ±0.16 ±0.70 ±1.04 ±2.02 (10.51%)** (132.37%)* (26.16%)* (18.35%)*** (17.98%) (26.93%)

(8.76%)qqq (38.03%)qq (42.08%)

Gonad 112.66 13.28 N. D. 1.45 107.39 11.21 4.32 1.49 86.57 13.26 N.D. 0.78 ±1.63 ±2.37 ±0.02 ±2.02 ±0.02 ±0.24 ±0.03 ±0.86 ±1.04 ±0.55 (4.68%)* (29.60%)* (2.76%) (23.16%)*** (0.16%) (46.21%)

(19.39%)qqq (22.96%)qqq (48.97%)

(Bracket values represent percentage differences) (*, q- P < 0.05, **, qq-P < 0.01,*** qqq- P < 0.001, *- compared to monsoon, q - compared to winter of respective metals) 509 510 G.D. Suryawanshi et al creek creates drastic siltation on the clam beds if the metals (26.35%). It is evident from the data that clams levels in the environment increase. Lakshmanan and concentrate zinc and lead as compared with cadmium Nambisan (1983) reported concentrations of Fe, Cu, Zn and copper. Though zinc is the dominant metal observed and Pb in Villorita cyprinoides, Meretix casta and P. in the clam, the concentrations registered in adult clams viridis, were influenced by seasons. Highest do not pose an imminent threat to the consumers or to the concentrations of these metals were found during low clams themselves as they are having a high threshold level salinity and low pH of the habitat water i.e. in monsoon, for zinc. The chemical industries are not situated along metal concentrations decreased in these species in Kalbadevi creek but apparently the wastes are getting summer a period of high salinity and pH. Philips (1976) dried up in barren lands nearby and the freshets bring a observed that seasonal fluctuations varied from site to heavy load of pollutants into the creek. The increase in site according to proximity of polluted freshwater inflows. the availability of heavy metals in the ambient water and Metal pollution in coastal environment usually occurs due sediment may be causing accumulation of metals in the to land run-off, increased sediment load from rivers, clams. Hung (1990) reported that the oyster Crassostrea domestic sewage and disposal shipping, dredging activity. gigas accumulated very high quantity of copper, along Dean et al., (1986) found that trace metal concentrations the mariculture area of southwestern Taiwan. They also generally decrease with mobility of invertebrates, due to reported that the green color was due to excessive the fact that those species spending more time on bottom accumulation of copper in the clam tissues. Joseph and tend to forage and feed in an environment usually Shrivastava (1993) found higher heavy metals like Zn, containing high concentrations of trace metals than the Cd, Cu, Cr, Ni, and Pb in the oyster Crassostrea water column. Further, in present study, it is observed madrasensis from Ennore estuary Madras, during the that the zinc in winter when compared with those found breeding season and also when estuary received heavy in monsoon showed decreased In summer, generally the freshwater influx during the monsoon. The breeding metal content was decreased when compared with those season of C. madrasensis in that estuary was during found in monsoon and winter seasons. In respect with monsoon period. Athalye and Gokhale (1994) reported zinc content decreased more from mantle (26.58%) enhanced level of heavy metals accumulation in gastropods followed by gonad (23.16%), gill (20.96%), siphon Dostia voilocia and Cerithidiopsilla dgadjaviensis due (18.35%), adductor muscle (13.11%) and hepatopancreas to water pollution in Thane Creek, Maharashtra. The (11.08%) (all at P < 0.001) when compared with monsoon. present results were correlated with Kumbhar (2001), Further, the content was more decreased from gill which is made similar type of observations in clams M. (20.75%) followed by gonad (19.39%), mantle (11.24%), meretrix and Katelysia opima from Bhatye estuary during siphon 98.76%) (all at P < 0.001) and adductor muscle different seasons. Further they noted the high metal level (5.54%, P < 0.05) and hepatopancreas (1.05%) when was observed during rainy season and low in summer. compared with winter. The lead content more decreased ACKNOWLEDGEMENT from adductor muscle (44.18%, P < 0.01) followed by The first author is grateful to Director, Marine research hepatopancreas (19.19%), siphon (17.98%), mantle Laboratory, Ratnagiri for providing necessary facilities (12.02%), gill (5.42%) and gonad (0.16%) (all at non and also thankful to ICAR, New Delhi for the award of significant) when compared with monsoon. But the fellowship content compared with winter it decreased from mantle (54.15%, P < 0.01) followed by adductor muscle (50.36%), REFERENCES gill (45.31 %) (all at P < 0.001), siphon (38.03%, P < APHA (1989) Standard method for the examination of water and 0.01), hepatopancreas (35.37%, P < 0.05) and gonad wastewater. 17th eadition American Public Health Asso. (22.96%, P < 0.001). 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Katelysia opima, Meretrix meretrix. Ph. D. Thesis Shivaji Arch. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 31, 47-53. University, Kohlapur 1-325. Wang W and Ke C (20020 Dominance of dietary intake of cadmium Lakshmanam P T and Nambisan P N K (1983) Seasonal variations in and zinc by two marine predatory gastropods. Aquat. Toxicol., trace metal content in bivalve molluscs, Mvillorita cyprinoids 56, 153-165. (Hanely), Meretrix casta (Chemnitz) and Perna viridis (L.) Indian J. Mar. Sci. 12, 100-103. Samples (n = 30) of green mussel (Perna viridis), Asiatic hard clam (Meretrix meretrix), Pacific oyster (Crassosstrea gigas) and marsh clam (Polymesoda expans) were acquired from fishermen in Kg. Teritipan, Marudu Bay. These bivalves were analyzed for heavy metals content using the Inductively Couples Plasma-Optical Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-OES). The study found that the mean contents of Arsenic (As) and Manganese (Mn) in all analyzed bivalves exceeded the permissible limits as well as copper (Cu), lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn) in Pacific oyster, and Zn in marsh clam. PAHs in Seawater of the Semi-Closed Areas along the Alexandria Coast of Egyptian Mediterranean Sea. I was thinking all sorts of things like some metals would be on the outside of the ring because they weighed more. cheers. I wish Frontier would fix the NPC's scanning you when all you have are limpets and they think you have a huge cargo. Although I can take down an NPC anaconda with my mining pyphon. but don't do that if I have a full load of metals. fly safe. have a good journey. permalink. embed. Meretrix is a of edible saltwater clams, marine bivalve molluscs in the family , the Venus clams. They appeared in the fossil record in the age. Species in the genus Meretrix include: Meretrix lamarckii. . . †Meretrix chalcedonica, early Lefipán Formation, Cañadón Asfalto Basin, Argentina. †Meretrix dalli, Martinez Formation of California. †Meretrix faba, Cenomanian Khatiyah Formation of the United Arab Emirates. The clam Meretrix meretrix was used as a biomonitor to implement an environmental monitoring program along the coast of Beibu Gulf in October 2011. This program not only analyzed biomarkers including acetylcholinesterase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione S-transferase, catalase and superoxide dismutase activities, total glutathione content and lipid peroxidation level in M. meretrix but also adopted a multi-biomarker approach - integrated biomarker response (IBR) to assess the environmental quality in this ecosystem. In addition, the metal (Hg, As, Cu, Pb, Zn, Cd and Cr) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) content in the surface sediment at the study area were also measured. The results showed that IBR index was able to distinguish a space trend between sampling sites...