Abstract:
The objectives of this study was to determine the concentration and distribution of
arsenic (As) and mercury (Hg) in the tissue of rock oysters, limpets, Thais sp and
barnacles from the coast ofTerengganu, to study the relationship between the location of
sampling stations with heavy metal content and the relationship between the size of
organisms with heavy metal content. Analysis of metals indicated that arsenic distributed
more than me
r
cury in tissue of study organisms. The
r
e was no correlation between
concentration of As and Hg with every sampling station due to the different environment
and sources of contamination in every sampling station. Also, no correlation stated
between different sizes of organisms with As and Hg content in their tissues. This
probably due to the characteristic of As and Hg as non-essential metals and toxicant.
Based on data achieved, all study organisms in every sampling station were contaminated
with As while Hg concentration was acceptable in safety limit. As concentration through
this study showed values ranged from 1.30-4.12 µgig wet weight that exceeded the
permissible limit (1 µgig wet weight) established by the Malaysian Food Act 1983 and
Food Regulations 1985 Fourteen Schedule. Previous studies have lack of data on As and
Hg in Malaysia due to the difficulties of analysis.
