Concentration of heavy metals Cd, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn in sea water, sediment and bivalve samples from three stations was studied for one year along Tuticorin coast. The concentration was in the order of Fe>Mn>Zn>Cu>Pb>Cd>Ni. Generally the concentration of Fe was very high in the sediment and bivalves when compared to earlier studies from other areas along the Indian coast. High concentration of Fe, Mn, Cu, Pb and Zn was observed during monsoon season. One way ANOVA indicated statistically significant differences (p<0.01) among the samples in the concentration of Cu, Fe, Mn, Pb and Zn. Except for Cd and Cu, no significant difference was noticed in the seasonal variation of other metals.

Heavy metals, sea water, sediment, bivalve tissue, Tuticorin