| Abstract |
Marine organisms are known to accumulate petroleum hydrocarbons in their tissue from the surrounding environment or through the food chain . Bivalves being sedentary filter feeders are extremely vulnerable to both chronic and acute exposures to petroleum hydrocarbons. In the recent years, due to increasing activity of bulk carriers, oil tankers, industrial activities and other anthropological activities, considerable amount of oil is finding its way into the coastal waters around Visakhapatnam. Mytilopsis sallei, a marine bivalve occurs in the vicinity of the harbour waters where petroleum hydrocarbons are present in high concentrations. The initial levels of petroleum hydrocarbons in the tissue of M. sallei reflected on the amount of petroleum hydrocarbons in the medium. M. sallei accumulated PHC in the tissue to a level greater than that found in the surrounding medium. A direct relationship exists between the initial concentration and that of the amounts retained after depuration. Total elimination of petroleum hydrocarbons could not be achieved even after 30 days of depuration |
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