The dissolved heavy metals (As, Ba, Cd, Cr,Co, Cu, Fe, Mn. Mo, Ni, Pb3 Se, Sr, V and Zn) in molluscan shells from Damietta Nile branch sediments were estimated in three zones during April - June 2004.The average values (ppm*10"3) were 0.63, 0.3, 0.01, 0.05, 0.13, 2.32, 3.33, 1,97, 0.19, 0.22, 0.26, 0.5,2.51, 0.051 and 2.21, respectively,
Results indicate that levels of heavy metals increased northwards and in nepionic (recent) stages and were positively correlated with salinity, chlorisity, alkalinity, dissolved oxygen and calcite mineral and negatively correlated with pH values and aragonite mineral Certain heavy metals such as As, Co, Cu, Fe, Mn. Mo and Pb were more abundant in bivalve shells(i.e. high aragonite), while Ba, Cd, Cr, Ni, Pb, Sr, V and Zn were more abundant in gastropod shells (i.e. high calcite).