DISTRIBUTION OF HEAVY METALS IN SURFACE WATER, SUSPENDED PARTICULATE MATTER, SEDIMENT AND CLAM (MERETRIX LYRATA) FROM DOWNSTREAM OF SAIGON-DONG NAI RIVER, VIETNAM

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate distribution of selected heavy metals (Cu, Zn, Pb, Cr and Cd) in clams Meretrixlyrata (clam), suspended particulate matter (SPM), water and sediment in the downstream area of Saigon – Dong Nai (SG-DN) River. During March to September 2015, the contamination of those metals at four sampling sites from fresh water to brackish water zone and Meretrix Lyrata clams, which were cultured at many clam farms at Can Thanh beach at Can Gio District, were monitored. The concentrations of metals in clam samples were also determined at a comparative sampling site at Tan Thanh beach (Tien Giang province). Generally, the order of metal concentrations in all environmental components along the SG-DN River was Zn>Cu>Cr>Pb>Cd while the metal concentrations in different environmental components at Can Thanh area were in different orders. According to the results, the increasing tendency of only Cu, Zn and Cd concentrations in SPM and sediment from river upstream to estuary were found. All trace metal concentrations in clam samples were higher than in water and smaller than in sediment and SPM at Can Thanh. Only Cr concentrations in medium and small clam samples had positive significant correlations with those in sediment and SPM (medium size only). In comparison with concentrations of trace metals in water, sediment, SPM and clams at Tan Thanh, those at Can Thanh were higher.