HEAVY METALS IN Telescopium telescopium AND SEDIMENTS FROM TWO STATIONS OF VELLAR ESTUARY, SOUTHEAST COAST OF INDIA

The concentrations of heavy metals (Fe, Mg, Zn and Cu) were estimated in sediment, (shell and tissue) of the mollusc Telescopium telescopium from two stations of Vellar Estuary. The concentrations of the heavy metals analyzed exhibited the following decreasing order Fe>Mg >Zn>Cu in sediments and Mg >Fe>Zn>Cu in tissue and shell of the study animal from both the stations. Zn and Cu concentration was below the alarming level. Cu was minimum accumulated of all the metals estimated in sediment and animal whereas Fe was recorded maximum in sediment and Mg in shell and tissue from both stations. In the present study Mg content was found to be higher 69.98 2.34 (tissue) to 14.31 +/- 0.49 ppm (shell). The Fe content was ranging from 10.67 +/- 0.04(tissue) to 0.745 +/- 0.06ppm(shell).Zn content was reported as 0.891 +/- 0.64 ppm(tissue) to 0.311 +/- 0.01 ppm(shell). The Cu concentration was the lowest, ranging between 0.2 +/- 0.01ppm(tissue) to 0.012 +/- 0.02 ppm(shell).To understand the background concentration of the trace metals, the level of these metals were studied in the sediment and Fe recorded the maximum value of 187.8 +/- 3.26 ppm in (Stl) and Cu recorded minimum value of 0.263 +/- 0.004 ppm(Stl). Combined correlation of both the stations between the sediment vs. sediment, tissue vs. tissue, shell vs. shell were positively correlated and significant at P<0.001 level. Accumulation of all metals was found to be higher in sediment and animal of SO (mangroves) than St2. Continuous contribution of pollutant due to human activities, litter fall, detritus may have a significant contribution of these metals in mangrove environment St1. Individual correlation results of Station1 and Station 2 between the sediment vs. T. telescopium tissue, sediment vs. T. telescopium shell was found not significant at any level.