Abstract:
This study aims at determining the heavy metals concentration and bioaccumulation
factor (BAF) in Holothuria species in Pulau Bidong, Terengganu. Concentration of
selected heavy metals (Zn, Fe, K, Mg, Pb, Cd, Co and Al) were analyzed in body wall,
longitudinal muscle, respiratory tree, and digestive tract of Holothuria species in
Pulau Bidong by using lCP-OES after the samples were digested with Microwave
Digestion machine with l.5 mL of nitric acid. The heavy metals concentration are
significantly different (p < 0.05) between body parts of Holothuria. K and Mg were
the two highest metals with the concentration level of K was 5097.57 µg/g in body
wall, 4333.04 µg/g in longitudinal muscle, 329.76 µg/g in respiratory tree and
5672.95 µg/g in digestive tract while concentration of Mg was 7858.32 µg/g in body
wall, 6248.71 µg/g in longitudinal muscle, 7012.86 µg/g in respiratory tree and
9256.27 µg/g in digestive tract. Concentration of Pb was five times higher than the
permissible levels of Malaysian Food Regulation while Cd was 2.4 times higher than
permissible levels in world scale. Bioaccumulation factor of Holothuria species
indicated Holothuria species is macroconcentrator with the values of bioaccumulation
factor is higher than 2 in all four body parts. This indicates Holothuria species is
suitable for biomonitoring of its environment. K and Mg are essential elements that
require for daily biological processes of Holothuria which explains the high
concentration of both elements in Holothuria species.
