Comparison of heavy metal concentrations in the different parts of telescopium telescopium collected from a relatively less polluted site of Sungai Janggut and a polluted site of Kuala Juru

Telescope snails Telescopium telescopium were collected from a relatively less polluted site of Sungai Janggut (Selangor) and a known polluted site of Kuala Juru (Penang), Peninsular Malaysia. The soft tissues of the snail samples were dissected into five different parts (operculum, foot, muscle, mantle and remainder) besides the shells. Based on all the different soft tissues, Sungai Janggut recorded higher concentrations of Cd and Pb when compared to those at Kuala Juru while Kuala Juru recorded higher concentrations of Cu, Fe, Zn and Ni indicating higher bioavailability and contamination of these metals in the respective areas. The distribution of heavy metals in the different tissues indicated that some tissues like shell, remainder, operculum and mantle could become better biomonitoring organs of specific heavy metals than total soft tissues. The results were also well supported by the sediment data of the snails\u27 habitats. ThereforeT telescopium is a potential biomonitor of Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn pollution at intertidal areas of Peninsular Malaysia although further validation is necessary