The black clam Villoritta cyprinoides are rich source of proteins and are particularly used for human consumption along the west coast of India. The present study deals with the quantization of xenobiotics in water samples and tissue of black clams collected from three different sites namely, Padne, Kuppam and Atholi in the state of Kerala. Among the three heavy metal (Pb, Cd, Hg) screened for their presence, Pb was distributed in water samples from site A: Padne and Cd in the other two sites B: Kuppam and C: Atholi, whereas Hg was absent in all the three sites. However, both Pb and Cd were detectable in the tissue of clams from all the three sites. On analysis of pesticides, none of the water samples in the three sites had any residues of the tested pesticides. On the other hand, BHC (δ form) and endosulphan (α form) were detectable in clams collected from site B and C. These findings strongly suggest that V. cyprinoides can be used as a bio- indicator for monitoring heavy metal accumulation and it signals an emergency need to conserve our water bodies harboring aquatic organisms as well as to implement stringent regulations regarding industrial disposal and use of pesticides.
