The clam, Arca (Anadara) subcrenata Lischke, which inhabits abundantly in Bohai Bay, is a valuable seafood as well as an indicator in studying seawater pollution by heavy metals and consequently a criteria in establishing water quality. The present paper deals with the research on the accumulation, distribution and depuration of Cd, Cu, Pb, Ni, Cr by this species and the salinity influence on their uptake rate. The clams were first exposed to the five kinds of metals in various concentrations. After being treated by wet digestion, the contents of heavy metals in the samples were determined by WFD-Y2 Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer.