Lead, copper and zinc contents of Neritina sp. (Gastropoda) in the Terengganu river santuary

Abstract

By using gastropods as indicator, we can indicate level of lead, copper and zinc in their body tissues and determine the contamination of the heavy metals in the area of Terengganu Estuaries. The objectives ofthis work were to identify copper, zinc and lead accumulated in the tissue of organisms collected, to see the relation between sizes of mollusk with the concentrations of the heavy metals in the mollusk tissue and to make a comparison between concentrations of heavy metals in a mollusc tissue in each different station. There are ten different sampling locations around Kuala Terengganu Estuaries. Gastropods of Neritina sp. were randomly collected for this purpose. Concentration of lead, copper and zinc were analyzed by using flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS) model Varian 220 FS. Neritina sp. accumulates zinc the most in their tissues compared to other heavy metals. The concentration are around 97.8μglg - 179.0μglg. the highest concentrations of zinc is in Station 9 which is around 179.0 μgig. The second highest concentration of heavy metals is Copper. The concentration is around 20.2 μgig - 94.3 μgig. The highest concentration is identified in Station 2. Station 2 is around Pasar Payang area which is 94.3 μgig. The lowest concentration of copper is in Station 10 which is around 20.2 μgig.Lead also had been analyzed in the tissues of the gastropods collected. The concentrations are around 17.9 μgig - 42.2 μgig. The highest concentration is in Station 5, near maritime boat area.From Kruskal-Wallis Test, there are significance (p<0.05) between stations for lead, copper and zinc. These show that there is pollution and contamination occurs. There are also differences of concentration in different size of organism. Positive regression shows in lead explain the concentration increasing with sizes while for copper and zinc is in the other way.