Alterations in Certain Biochemical Parameters of the Intertidal Clam, Gafrarium divaricatum, Due to Chronic Exposure of Xylene, Benzene and Gear Oil-WSF

Gafrarium divaricatum (Gmelin) was exposed to sublethal concentrations of xylene (4.25 and 8.50 mg/l), benzene (4.35 and 8.70 mg/l) and gear oil-WSF (1 and 2%) for 30 days. There was a decline in condition index of the treated clams while moisture content showed an increase on day 30. Glycogen content of hepatopancreas of the clams treated with the pollutants registered an initial increase on day 4 whereas the level declined in gill and adductor muscle during this period while this constituent in hepatopancreas, gill and adductor muscle of the treated clams recorded drastic decline by day 30. Lactic acid, pyruvic acid and protein content in the three tissues increased significantly on day 4 and 30 of the treatment. It appears that the clams resorts to anaerobic mode of respiration under the pollution stress induced due to prolonged chronic exposure of xylene, benzene and gear oil-WSF.