Heavy metal accumulation in the marine bivalve Ruditapes philippinarum

Abstract

An ecosystem of the coast is a wide area and undergo various influences from the pollution of the agriculture and the commerce. The pollutant as heavy metals have influence on genetics mutation at the colony. At the recent study, the two genetic markers(phosphoglucomutase and glucosephosphate isomerase) and the protein marker(metallothionein) could confirmed to influence of the heavy metals in the each different colonies. There have been few studies where metallothionein in bivalve mollusks were used as a biomarker of heavy metal exposure in marine ecosystem. Among marine mollusks, genus Ruditapes is one of representative taxa supposed to be contaminated with heavy metals because of their benthic habitats. The present study was conducted to confirm that a clam Ruditapes philippinarum can be used as a biomarker for the monitoring of the heavy metal pollution in the silt of marine environment.