Heavy Metal Concentration in Fishes from the Coastal Waters of Kapar and Mersing, Malaysia

Year 2013, Volume: 13 Issue: 2, - , 01.04.2013

F. H. Bashir M. S. Othman A. G. Mazlan S. M. Rahim K. D. Simon

https://doi.org/10.4194/1303-2712-v13_2_21

Abstract

Although fish is a significant source of protein, they are currently affected by rapid industrialization and mechanized agricultural activities, resulting in increased concentrations of heavy metals in fishes. Concentrations of heavy metals, namely, Cd, Cu, Mn, and Zn, were estimated in the muscle, liver, and gills of two commercially important marine fishes, namely, Arius thalassinus and Johnius belangeri. The fish samples were collected from Kapar and Mersing, which are the west and east coastal waters of Peninsular Malaysia, respectively. The results showed that the muscle had the lowest metal concentrations compared with the liver and gills. Among the estimated heavy metal concentrations, those of Zn and Cd were the highest and the lowest, respectively, for both species in muscle, liver and gills. Moreover, our results indicate that A. thalassinus has higher metal concentrations than J. belangeri in both areas. None of the values in the muscles exceeded the standard guideline values and hence would not pose any health hazard to consumers.

Keywords

Brackish water, heavy metals, Arius thalassinus, Johnius belangeri, risk factor

References

• Agusa, T., Kunito A., Sudaryanto, T., Monirith S.K., Klap, A. and Iwata, H. 2007. Exposure assessment for trace elements from consumption of marine fish in
• Southeast Asia. Environmental Pollution, 145: 266– 7 Agusa, T., Kunito, T., Yasunaga, G., Iwata H., Subramanian A., Ismail, A. and Tanabe, S. 2005. Concentrations of trace elements in marine fish and its risk assessment in Malaysia. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 51: 896–911.
• Ahmad, H. Abu Hilal, and Ismail, N. S. 2007. Heavy Metals in Eleven Common Species of Fish from the Gulf of Aqaba, Red Sea. Jordan Journal of Biological Sciences, 1(1): 13-18.
• Almeida, J.A., Diniz, Y.S., Marques, S.F.G., Faine, I.A., Ribas, B.O., Burneiko, R.C. and Novelli, E.I.B. 2002. The use of oxidative stress responses as biomarkers in Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) exposed to in vivo cadmium contamination. Environment International, 27: 673–679.
• Al-Yousf, M.H., El-Shahawi, M.S. and AL-Ghais, S.M. 2000. Trace metals in liver, skin and muscle of Lethrinus lentjan fish species in relation to body length and sex. Science of the Total Environment, 256: 87–94. doi: org/10.1016/S0048-9697(99)003630.
• Babji, A.S., Embong, M.S. and Woon, W.W. 1979. Heavy metal content in coastal water fishes of West Malaysia. Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, 23: 830–836.
• Burger, J., Gaines, K.F., Shane Boring, C., Stephens, W.L., Snodgrass, J. and Dixon, C. 2002. Metal levels in fish from the Savannah river: potential hazards to fish and other receptors. Environmental Research, 89: 85–97. doi:1006/enrs.2002.4330.
• Canli, M. and Atli, G. 2003. The relationships between heavy metal (Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Pb and Zn) levels and the size of six Mediterranean fish species. Environment Pollution, 121: 129–136. doi:.org/10.1016/S0269-7491(02)00194-X.
• Carvalho, M. L., Santiago, S. and Nunes, M.L. 2005. Assessment of the essential element and heavy metal content of edible fish muscle. Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry, 382: 426–432. doi: 1007/s00216-004-3005-3.
• Cid, B.P., Boia, C., Pombo, L., and Rebelo, E. 2001. Determination of trace metals in fish species of the Ria de Aveiro (Portugal) by electro thermal atomic absorption spectrometry. Food Chemistry, 75 (1): 93– doi: 10.1016/S0308-8146(01)00184-4.
• Djedjibegovic, J., Skrbo, T.L.A., Aleksandra, M. and Sober, M. 20 Contents of cadmium, copper, mercury and lead in fish from the Neretva river (Bosnia and Herzegovina) determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) Food Chemistry, 131: 469–476. doi: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2011.09.009
• Dural, M., Göksu, M.Z.L., and Özak, A.A. 2007. Investigation of Heavy Metal Levels in Economically Important Fish Species Captured from the Tuzla Lagoon. Food Chemistry, 102 (1): 415-421.
• Eisler, R. 1998. Copper hazards to fish, wildlife and invertebrates: A synoptic review. Biological Science Report, 33. 100 pp.
• Erdoĝrul, Z. and Ates, D.A. 2006. Determination of cadmium and copper in fish samples from Sir and Menzelet dam lake Kahramanmaras, Turkey. Environ Monit Assess, 117: 281–290.
• Evans, D.H. 1987. The fish gill: Site of action and model for toxic effects of environmental pollutants. Environmental Health Perspectives, 71: 47–58.
• FAO/WHO. 1984. List of maximum levels recommended for contaminants by the Joint FAO/ WHO Codex Alimentarius Commission, Second Series. CAC/FAL, Rome 3: 1–8. Food and drugs. KualaLumpur, Malaysia Law Publisher.
• Gulmini, M., Ostacoli, G., and Zelano, V. 1994. Comparision between microwave and conventional heating procedures in tessier’s extractions of calcium, copper, iron and manganese in a lagoon sediment. Analyst, 119: 2075–2080. doi: 1039/AN9941902075
• Hajeb, P., Jinap, S., Ismail, A., Fatimah, A.B., Jamilah J. and Rahim, M.A. 2009. Assessment of mercury level in commonly consumed marine fishes in Malaysia. Food Control, 20(1): 79– doi: 1016/j.foodcont.2008.02.012
• Honda, K., Sahrul, M., Hidaka, H. and Tatsukawa, R. 1983. Organ and tissue distribution of heavy metals and their growth-related changes in Antarcticfish, Pagothenia borchgrevinki. Agricultural and Biological Chemistry, 47: 2521–2532.
• Ikem, A. and Egiebor, N.O. 2005. Assessment of trace elements in canned fishes (Mackerel, Tuna, Salmon, Sardines and Herrings) marketed in Georgia and Alabama (United States of America). Journal of Food Composition and Analysis, 18: 771–787.
• Irwandi, J. and Farida, O. 2009. Mineral and heavy metal contents of marine fin fish in Langkawi Island, Malaysia. International Food Research Journal, 16: 105–112.
• Ismail, A., Jusoh N.R. and Ghani I.A. 1995. Trace metal concentrations in marine prawns of the Malaysian coast. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 31: 108–110. doi: 1016/0025-326X(95)00080-7
• Jezierska, B. and Witeska, M. 2001. Metal toxicity to fish. University of Podlasie. Monografic No. 42.
• Kamaruzzaman, B.Y., Ong, M.C., Rina, S.Z. and Joseph, B. 20 “Levels of Some Heavy Metals in fishes from Pahang River Estuary, Malaysia,” Journal of Biological Sciences, 10(2): 157-161. Kamaruzzaman, B.Y., Rina, Z., John, A.B. and Jalal, K.C.A. 2011. “Heavy Metals Accumulation in Commercially Important fishes of South West Malaysian Coast. Research Journal of Environmental Sciences, 5 (6): 595-602.
• Kojadinovic, J., Michel, P., Matthieu Le C., Richard, C., Paco, B. 2007. Bioaccumulation of trace elements in pelagic fish from the Western Indian Ocean. Environmental Pollution, 146: 548–566. doi: 1016/j.envpol.2006.07.015
• Kotze P.H., Preez, H.H. and VanVuren J.H.J. 1999. Bioaccumulation of copper and zinc in Oreochromis mossambicus and Clarias garicpinus, from the Olifants River, Mpumalanga, South Africa. Water SA, 25: 99–110.
• Krushevska, A., Barnes, R.M. and Amarasiriwaradena, C. 19 Decomposition of biological samples for inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry using an open focused microwave digestion system. Analyst, 118: 1175–1181.
• Law, A.T. and Singh, A. 1991. Relationships between heavy metal content and body weight of fish from the Kelang estuary, Malaysia. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 22: 86–89.
• Luoma, S.N. and Rainbow, P.S. 2008. Metal contamination in aquatic environment: science and lateral management, Cambridge, New York, 573pp.
• Malaysian Food and Regulations (1985). In Hamid Ibrahim, Nasser and Yap Thiam Huat. Malaysian Law on Food and Drugs. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Law Publisher.
• Matta, J., Milad, M., Manger, R. and Tosteson, T. 1999. Heavy metals, lipid peroxidation, and cigateratoxicity in the liver of the Caribben barracuda (Sphyraena barracuda). Biological Trace Element Research, 70: 69–
• Mendil, D., nal, O.F., Tuzen, M. and Soylak, M. 2010. “Determination of trace metals in different fish species and sediments from River Yes¸ ilırmak in Tokat, Turkey,” Food Chem Toxicol., 48: 1383–1392.
• Mohamed C.A.R., Samat, A., Othman, M.R. and Wan, M.L.W.M. 2006. Kandungan Cd, Cr, Fe, Mn dan Al di dalam ikan di persekitaran Stesen Janakuasa Elektrik, TNB, Kapar, Selangor. Malaysia Journal of Analytical Sciences, 10 (1): 87–92.
• Monday, U. E. and Nsikak, U. B. 2007. Cadmium, Copper, Lead and Zinc tissue levels in Bonga shad (Ethmalosa Fimbriata) and Tilapia (Tilapia guineensis) caught from Imo River, Nigeria. American Journal of Food Technology, 2: 48-45. doi: 10.3923/ajft.2007.48.54
• Naji, A., Ismail, A. and Ismail, A.R. 2010. Chemical speciation and contamination assessment of Zn and Cd by sequential estraction in surface sediment of Klang River, Malaysia. Microchemical Journal, 95: 285–292.
• Nardi, E.P., Evangelista, F.S., Tormen, L., Saint´Pierre, T.D., Curtius, A.J. and de Souza, S.S. 2009. The use of inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) for the determination of toxic and essential elements in different types of food samples. Food Chemistry, 112: 727–732. doi: 1016/j.foodchem.2008.06.010
• NAS-NRC (National Academy of Sciences-National Research Council), 1974. Food and Nutrition Board. Recommended dietary allowances. Washington, DC: National Academic Press.
• Nord, L. G., Adams, C.D., Wixson, B.G., Loftin, K.A., and Huang, Yue-wern. 2004. Lead, Zinc, Copper and Cadmium in fish and sediments from the Big River Creek of Missouri’s Old Lead Belt. Envir. Geochem Hlth., 26: 37-49.
• NRC (National Academy of Science), 1980. Recommended dietary allowances, (9 th ed.). Washington, DC: National Academy of Science, 43pp.
• Ong, M.C. and Kamaruzzaman, B.Y. 2009. An assessment of metals (Pb and Cu) contamination in bottom sediment from South China Sea Coastal Waters, Malaysia. American Journal of Applied Sciences, 6(7): 1418–1423.
• Puel, D., Zsuerger, N., and Breittmayer, J.P. 1987. Statistical assessment of a sampling pattern for evalution of changes in Hg and Zn concentration in Patellacoerulea. Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, 38: 700–706.
• Sin, Y.M., Wong, M.K., Chou, M.L. and Alias, N.B. 1991. A study of the heavy metal Concentrations of the Singapore River. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 19: 481–494.
• Sivalingam, F.M. and Sani, A.B. 1980. Mercury content in hair from fishing communities of the state of Penang, Malaysia, Marine Pollution Bulletin, 11: 188–191.
• Sivaperumal, P., Sankar, T.V. and Nair, P.G.V. 2007. Heavy metal concentrations in fish, shellfish and fish products from internal markets of India vis-à-vis international standards. Food Chemistry, 102: 612– 6 doi: org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2006.05.041
• Swami, K., Judd, C.D., Orsini, J., Yang, K.X. and Husain, L. 2001. “Microwave assisted digestion of atmospheric aerosol samples followed by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry determination of trace elements,” Fresenius J. Anal. Chem., 369: 63-70. Tepe, Y., Turkmen, M. and Turkmen, A. 2008. Assessment of heavy metals in two commercial fish species of four Turkish areas. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 146 (1-3): 277-284. doi: 10. 1007/s 10661-007-0079 3.
• Turkmen, M., Turkmen, A., Tepe, Y., Ates, A. and Gokkus, K. 2008. Determination of metal contaminations in sea from Marmara, Agean and Mediterranean seas: twelve fish species. Food Chem., 108: 794–800.
• Tüzen, M. 2003. Determination of heavy metals in fish samples of the middle Black Sea (Turkey) by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. Food Chemistry 80 (1):119-123. doi: 10.1016/S03088146 (02) 00264-9
• Uluturhan, E. and Kucuksezgin, F. 2007. Heavy metal contaminants in Red Pandora (Pagellus erythrinus) tissues from the Eastern Aegean Sea, Turkey. Water Research, 41: 1185–1192.
• Wong, C.K., Wong, P.P.K. and Chu, L. M. 2001. Heavy Metal Concentrations in Marine Fishes Collected from Fish Culture Sites in Hong Kong. Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, 40(1): 60Xu, Y. and Wang, W.X. 2002. Exposure and potential food chain transfer factor of Cd, Se and Zn in marine fish Lutjanus argentimaculatus, Mar Ecol Prog Ser, 238:173-186
• Yap, C.K., Ismail, A. and Tan, S.G. 2004. Heavy metal (Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn) concentration in the green-lipped mussel Perna viridis (Linnaeus) collected from some wild and aquaculture sites in the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia. Food Chemistry, 84: 569–575.
• Yap, C.K., Ismail, A., Tan, S.G. and Omar, H. 2002. Correlations between speciation of Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn in sediment and their concentrations in total soft tissue of green-lipped mussel Perna viridis from the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia. Environment International, 28:117–126.
• Yasumi, A., Takashi, K., Shinsuke, T., Igor, M. and Aubrey, D.G. 2005. Trace element accumulation in fishes collected from coastal waters of the Caspian Sea. Marine Pollution Bulletin 51: 882–888. doi:1016/j.marpolbul.2005.06.038
• Yilmaz, A.B. 2003. Levels of heavy metals (Fe, Cu, Ni, Cr, Pb and Zn) in tissue of Mugil cephalus and Trachurus mediterraneus from Iskenderun Bay. Turk. Environ. Res. 92: 277–281.
• Zheng, N., Wong, Q., Liang, Z. and Zheng, D. 2008. Characterization of heavy metal concentrations in the sediments of three freshwater rivers in Huludao City, Northeast China. Evironmental Pollution, 154: 135– 1 doi: 10.1016/j.envpol.2008.01.001.