ACCUMULATION OF HEAVY METALS IN THE GASTROPOD BULLIA VITTATA AT GULF OF MANNAR

摘要

This investigation deals with the accumulation of heavy metals (cadmium, mercury & lead) by marine gastropod Bullia vittata at Gulf of Manner. It is observed that the concentration of cadmium in males varied from 0.60 to 7.89 ppm and in females 0.80 to 0.8 ppm. The concentration of lead in males varied from0.075 to 0.72 ppm and in females from 0.10 to 0.83 ppm. The concentration of mercury was from 0.01 to 0.09 ppb in males and 0.03 to 0.10 ppb in females. Maximum concentration of all these metals was recorded during May 2002 (summer) and minimum during December 2002 (Monsoon) in both sexes.