Heavy metal distribution in the biotic and abiotic matrices along Karnataka coast, west coast of India

摘要

Sediment and soft tissue of bivalve samples collected from various sites of Karnataka coast wereudanalysed for the estimation of the nanaal and anthropogenic heavy metal fluxes. Seasonal variations ofudheavy metals in sediment and bivalves collected from selected hot spots from Binage, Karwar andudThannirbavi, Mangalore were monitored. High concentrations of Hg was observed in the environmentudnear' the vicinity of a caustic soda plant at Binage, Karwar, indicating Hg pollution. Total Hgudconcentration in the tissue of oysters sampled from a contaminated stream from the above site, exceededudthe safe limit of 0.5 ilg g.1 wet weight. The base-line heavy metal concentrations in sediment andudbivalves from selected sites of coastal Karnataka are presented.