Clara Margret Katticaran, K.Y. Mohammed Salih and P.S. Joseph
Abstract
A coastal pollution index estimated from the trace metals (manganese, copper, chromium, arsenic, nickel, ci - balt) n the tissue of Sunetta scripta had values greater than unity and reached up to 3.2. These indices revealed a pollution threat to the coastal ecosystem. The chromium level in the tissue turned out to be the major contributor to the pollution index. The seasonal indices of the trace metals in the clam tissues suggested an independence of the trace metal levels and the sexual maturity. The manganese was the most abundant metal and cobalt and nickel were below the detectable limits in the tissue. By virtue of the high pollution indices, this clam can be nominated as a sentinel organism for coastal pollution monitoring.