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. | Journal of Science and Technology 54 (2A) (2016) 207-213 DISTRIBUTION OF HEAVY METALS IN SURFACE WATER, SUSPENDED PARTICULATE MATTER, SEDIMENT AND CLAM (MERETRIX LYRATA) FROM DOWNSTREAM OF SAIGON-DONG NAI RIVER, VIETNAM Tran Tuan Viet1, *, Nguyen Duy Khanh1, Nguyen Phu Bao2, Nguyen Nhu Sang1, Dinh Quoc Tuc1, Nguyen Phuoc Dan1, Emilie Strady3, Seunghee Han4 1 University of Technology,Vietnam National University-Ho Chi Minh City (VNU-HCM), 268 Ly Thuong Kiet, District 10, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam 2 Institute for Tropicalization and Environment, 57A Truong Quoc Dung, Phu Nhuan District, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam 3 Asian Center Water Research (CARE), 268 Ly Thuong Kiet, District 10, Ho Chi Minh City, 4 Gwangju Institute for Science and Technology (GIST), 123 Cheomdangwagi-ro, Buk-gu, Gwangju, Korea * Email: Received: 1 April 2016; Accepted for publication: 15 June 2016 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
