Bioaccumulation of heavy metals in Asian seabass, tilapia and grouper from Laguna Tujoh and Sungai Semerak, Kelantan

Abstract

Laguna Tujoh and Sungai Semerak are two of the largest locations for cage culture activity in Kelantan. Fish such as Asian seabass, Tilapia and Grouper are the common types of cage cultured organism. Twenty fishes and five sediments samples were collected from each study area to determine the concentration of Fe, Pb, Cu and Co as well the bioaccumulation factor (BAF) of each studied metals. Samples were digested using microwave digestion method which then measured using Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry (I CP­ O ES). Liver was accumulated the highest concentration of Fe in Laguna Tujoh with 386 mg/kg in Asian seabass and 205 mg/kg in Tilapia, while in Sungai Semerak with 139 mg/kg in Asian seabass and 193 mg/kg in hybrid Grouper. Bioaccumulation Factor (BAF) of muscle was calculated from the ration of concentration in the muscle over sediment. BAF values greater than 1 was found for Cu in the liver of all types of fish except for hybrid Grouper. This suggests that liver could be a good bioindicator of Cu pollution.