A Comparison of Heavy Metal Concentrations and Health Assessment in Asian Clams Corbicula fluminea from Florida and North Carolina

Abstract

The Asian clam Corbicula fluminea was introduced into the United States in 1938 and has since become established in much of the country. This invasive species can compete with native bivalves and compromise industrial water supply systems and power plants. Numerous studies have examined bivalves as bioindicators. The purpose of this study was to compare the heavy metal concentrations of the hard and soft tissues of specimens from Florida and North Carolina and to assess the clams' health by microscopic examination of their soft tissues. Although the sample size was small, this study suggests that the Asian clams from the watersheds examined are healthy and that they accumulate lower levels of heavy metals than have been reported for clams from other, more polluted aquatic environments.