Assessment of heavy metals in sediment and its effect on fish near jetty Sungai Bahru, Kuala Perlis

Abstract

Aquatic organism and sediment closely related each other in absorbing heavy metal from surrounding and accumulate in their body tissues and its surface area. The concentration of heavy metals including Chromium, Copper, Iron, Manganese, and Zinc (Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn and Zn) in sediments at jetty Sungai Bahru, Kuala Perlis and their accumulation in fish tissues (muscle, liver, gills and tail) of three fish species commonly found in the water were investigated by used Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry (AAS). The highest concentration of heavy metal in sediment was Fe followed by Cr, Mn, Cu and Zn as the lowest concentration. Fish tissues of Hemibagrus Wyckioides showed greater concentration of Fe metals compared to Hemibagrus Capitulum and Channa Striatus. In composite sediment samples concentrations of heavy metals were below than MSQS standards for sediments. For fish tissues sample concentrations of heavy metals were below than WHO guideline except for liver and caudal fin part that exceed limit of EPA standard. Tail part or caudal fin of Channa Striatus, Hemibagrus Capitulum and Hemibagrus Wyckioides contained highest concentration of the studied heavy metals, while muscles appeared to be the least preferred site for the bioaccumulations of metals. The concentration of heavy metals in fish tissues for all fish samples were not caused by sediment contamination only. The Transfer Factor (TF) was showed that all the results are more than zero. Therefore, fish species caught within jetty Sungai Bahru may be imposed health hazards for consumers due to surpass the limit of Mn and Fe under Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Malaysian Food Regulation (MFR) standard.