PIXE analysis of biological bodies in Uranouchi bay

We have investigated shellfish called Japanese littleneck clam (Ruditapes philippinarum) which were collected from Uranouchi bay (Kochi, Japan) for analysis of elemental concentration by Particle Induced X-ray Emission (PIXE). A 4 MeV He++ ion beam was used to analyze shellfish in the ion beam laboratory of Kochi University of Technology (Japan). In the present study, shellfish have been chosen as a representative of the biological bodies in the Uranouchi bay. The concentration of heavy metals in shellfish has been quantified and the results are compared with those obtained by analyzing Market shellfish. Analyzing shellfish collected from three different places in the bay Cu, Zn, Br, Sr and Zr are detected as heavy metals. Our results suggest that in comparison with Market shellfish the Uranouchi bay shellfish contain more heavy metals.