Metal contamination in commercially important fish and shrimp species collected from Aceh (Indonesia), Penang and Perak (Malaysia)
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Date
2005
Authors
Sofia
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Abstract
This study was conducted to investigate the contamination of four heavy metals in the
tissues of commercially important fish and shrimp species and to evaluate risks to
human health associated with seafood consumption. The aim of this study is to provide
information on the Cd, Pb, Cu and Cr levels in the muscle, liver and kidney tissues of
five species of fish (A. mate, R. kanagurta, E. affinis, L. surinamensis and E. coioides)
and in the muscle of one species of shrimp (P. coromandelica). The fish and shrimp
samples for the metal determinations were collected at two sites in Malaysia (i.e., Batu
Maung in Penang and Kuala Sepetang in Perak) and three sites in Aceh, Indonesia
(i.e., Lampulo, Lambada and Ulee Lheue). In addition, this study also attempted to
compare the measured values with national and international standards for food and
human health.
The fish samples were found to contain Cd levels ranging between 0.01 to 0.83
μg/g (dry wt.) with the highest level recorded in the tuna (E. affinis). The highest Pb
levels were recorded in the same species and concentrations ranged between 0.02 to
0.73 μg/g (dry wt.). Concentrations of between 0.03 to 4.7 μg/g (dry wt.) were recorded
for Cu with the highest levels found in the grouper (E. coioides). Levels of between
0.03 to 2.09 μg/g (dry wt.) were detected for Cr with the highest accumulation recorded
in the mackerel (R. kanagurta).
The results from this study showed that the concentrations of Cd, Pb, Cu and
Cr were relatively high in the liver compared to the kidney and muscle. Samples
collected from Aceh (Indonesia) recorded relatively higher metal concentrations than
those collected from Penang and Perak (Malaysia). In the shrimp (P. coromandelica)
samples, the highest metal content was detected for Cu, which ranged from 1.25 to
2.84 μg/g (dry wt.) followed by Cr, the values for which, ranged between 0.14 to 1.1
μg/g (dry wt.). Cd levels ranged from 0.01 to 0.06 μg/g (dry wt.) while Pb levels ranged
from 0.01 to 0.09 μg/g (dry wt.). Shrimp samples collected from Aceh again recorded
higher metals levels compared to samples collected from Penang and Perak.
Overall, the findings from this study revealed that Cd, Pb, Cu and Cr
concentrations in the tissues were lower than the maximum permissible limit as
recommended by the Ministry of Health Malaysia (1998), Ministry of Agriculture,
Fisheries and Food, UK (1995) and Food and Agricultural Organization (2002). This
study found that levels of the metals in the liver and kidney tissues in some samples,
were higher than the recommended concentrations. However, consumers do not
routinely consume the viscera. A comparative study was also carried out between the
available recent data on the metals in the fish and shrimp species, muscle, liver and
kidney tissues of marine and coastal fish species from different regions of the world
with those of the present study, to observe their trend and status in regional and global
contexts.
Description
Master
Keywords
Biological science , Metal contamination , Shrimp species , Fish