Mercury concentration in molluscs and sediments from Uppanar Estuary, Southeast Coast of India

This research was designed to evaluate the mercury concentration in sediment, shell and tissue of the molluscs Meretrix meretrix, Crassostrea madrasensis and Cerithidea cingulata from two stations of Uppanar Estuary, Southeast coast of India. The concentration of mercury analyzed exhibited not much variation in sediment, tissue and shell of the study animal from all the 2stations. Mercury levels ranged from 1.2 to 1.8 μg/g dry weight in sediment samples and from 0.6 to 3.4 ppm in the shell and tissue of the molluscs. Even though no high levels of Hg were determined in the sediment and organisms, possible hazard may occur in the future depending on the agricultural and industrial development in this area. As suggested by many reported studies found in the literature, regular biomonitoring of the mercury concentration at these sites is needed since Meretrix meretrix, Crassostrea madrasensis is a popular commercial bivalve in India.