Abstract
This study examined the concentration of heavy metals in 13 fish species. The results indicated that shellfish species (clams) have the highest metal concentrations, followed by demersal and pelagic fishes. The mean concentration of metals in clams are Zn 88.74 ± 11.98 µg/g, Cu 4.96 ± 1.06 µg/g, Pb 1.22 ± 0.19 µg/g, Cd 0.34 ± 0.04 µg/g dry wt. basis, whereas the same measure in fish tissues was 58.04 ± 18.51, 2.47 ± 1.21, 0.58 ± 0.27 and 0.17 ± 0.08 µg/g dry wt. basis. The concentrations of heavy metals in clams and fish tissues were still lower than the maximum allowable concentrations as suggested by the Malaysian Food Act (1983) and are considered safe for local human consumption.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Agemian H, Starvent DP, Austen KD (1980) Simultaneous acid extraction of six trace metals from fish tissues by hot-block digestion and determination by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Analyst 55:125–130
Balachandran KK, Lalu Raj CM (2005) Heavy metal accumulation in a flow restricted, tropical estuary. Estuar Coast Shelf Sci 65:361–370
Boscolo R, Cacciatore F, Berto D, Giani M (2007) Polychlorinated biphenyls in clams Tapes philippinarum cultured in the Venice Lagoon (Italy): contamination levels and dietary exposure assessment. Food Chem Toxicol 45:1065–1075
Couture P, Rajott JW (2003) Morphometric and metabolic indicators of metal stress in wild yellow perch (Perca flaveseens) from Sudbury, Ontario: a review. J Environ Monit 5:216–221
DOE (2005) Malaysia environmental quality report 2004. Department of environment, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment Malaysia, Malaysia
Domingo JL, Bocio A, Falc´o G, Llobet JM (2007) Benefits and risks of fish consumption part I. A quantitative analysis of the intake of omega-3 fatty acids and chemical contaminants. Toxicology 230:219–226
FAO-Food and Agriculture Organization (2009) Fishery and aquaculture statistics. (ftp://fao.org/FI/CDrom/CD_yearbook_2009/navigation/index_content_food_balance_e.htm)
Gale NL, Adams CD, Wixson AB, Loftin KA, Huang Y (2004) Lead, zinc, copper and cadmium in fish and sediment from the Big River and Flat River Creek of Missouri’s Old Lead Belt. Environ Geochem Health 26:37–49
JECFA—Joint Expert Committee for Food Additives (2003) Summary and conclusions of the 61st meeting of the joint FAO/WHO expert committee on food additives (JECFA). JECFA/61/SC. Rome, Italy
Kalay M, Canli M (2000) Elimination of heavy metals (Cu, Zn, Cd and Pb) in tissues of a freshwater fish Tilapia zilli. Turk J Zool 24:429–436
Kamaruzzaman BY, Shuhada NT, Akbar B, Shahbudin S, Jalal KCA, Ong MC, Al-Barwani SM, Goddard JS (2011) Spatial concentrations of lead and copper in bottom sediments of Langkawi coastal area, Malaysia. Res J Environ Sci 5:179–186
Lim PE, Kiu MY (1995) Determination and speciation of heavy metals in sediment of the Juru River, Penang, Malaysia. Environ Monit Assess 35:85–95
Lim TO, Ding LM, Zaki M, Suleiman AB, Fatimah S, Siti S, Tahir A, Maimunah AH (2000) Distribution of body weight, height and body mass index in a national sample of Malaysian adults. Med J Malays 55:108–128
Malaysian Food Act (1983) MDC. Malaysia, 1995
McKim JM, Eaton JG (1978) Metal toxicity to embryos and larvae of eight species of freshwater fish-II: copper. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 19:608–616
Nussey G, Vuren JHJ, Preez HH (2000) Bioaccumulation of chromium, manganese, nickel and lead in the tissue of the moggel, Labeo, umbratus (Cyprinidae), from Witbank Dam, Mpumalanga. Water SA 26:269–284
Romeo M, Siau Y, Sidoumou Z, Gnassia-Barelli M (1999) Heavy metal distribution in different fish species from the Mauritania Coast. Sci Total Environ 232:169–175
US EPA-US Environmental Protection Agency (2000) Guidance for assessing chemical contaminant data for use in fish advisory, vol. II: risk assessment and fish consumption limits. US Environmental Protection Agency. Office of science and technology. Office of water, Washington (DC), EPA823-B-00-008
Viarengo A (1989) Heavy metals in marine invertebrates: mechanisms of regulation and toxicity at the cellular level. Crit Rev Aquat Sci 1:295–317
Acknowledgments
We would like to acknowledge the Faculty of Science and Technology, National University of Malaysia and the Ministry of High Education in Libya for financial support and also the laboratory assistants for sampling and analysing the fish samples.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding authors
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Idriss, A.A., Ahmad, A.K. Heavy Metal Concentrations in Fishes from Juru River, Estimation of the Health Risk. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 94, 204–208 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-014-1452-x
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-014-1452-x