Prone to pollution-induced leukemias, soft-shelled clams serve as monitors for polluted waters as well as for the study of the mechanisms of leukemias. They are often very abundant on mud flats where they are collected in great numbers. Mya is the common steamer clam. This species is found from the Arctic Ocean to Cape Hatteras and is typically 10cm in length and 6.5cm in height.

Barnes, R.D., Invertebrate Zoology, 1980, Saunders College and Holt, Rinehart and Winston.