Accumulation of some heavy metals in soft tissue and shell of edible bivalve Amiantis umbonella (Lamarck, 1818) in Bandar Abbas coast, the Persian Gulf

Edible clam Amiantis umbonella inhabits sandy-muddy coast in Bandar Abbas, northern Persian Gulf,. In this study specimens of this clam (240 specimens), water (12 samples) and sediment (12 samples) in summer and winter along two stations (first station, Park-e-Qadir, 56° 20⁄ E and 27° 11⁄ N and second station, Nakhl-e-Nakhoda, 56° 23⁄ E and 27° 10⁄ N) were collected from Golshahr coast of Bandar Abbas. The concentrations of 8 metals (Fe, Mg, Zn, Pb, Cd, Ag, As and Cu) in different parts of clam’s body, coastal water and sediment were determined. Regarding a few information on metal concentration in macro-benthic animals in this area, this study can be first provides report of metal concentration in this clam. There were no significant relationships between different stations and different seasons (P≥0.05). The maximum and the minimum metal concentrations in clams were belonged to Mg (10000±7823 µgg-1drywt) and Ag (<0.3±0.00 µgg-1drywt), respectively. Mg and Ag had the maximum and minimum concentrations in clam, water and sediment. There was a significant relationship between metal concentration in clam, coastal water and sediment (P≤0.05). There was also a significant positive correlation between clam’s length and the concentrations of Cd, Pb and Ag (P≤0.05). According to the high metal concentration in different parts of clam’s body, this clam can be introduced as a bioandicator for As, Pb, Cu, Ag and Zn.