Bioccumulation of anthracene in Lates calcarifer through food

Abstract

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) contamination becomes a serious issue in marine environment. PAHs could be accumulated into fish and subsequently transferred to human through food chain. Hence, this study was undertaken to study the bioaccumulation and depuration of anthracene / PAHs in L. calcarifer. The study was carried out for a period of 41 days where 27 days for bioaccumulation process and followed by 14 days for depuration process. The test was conducted using a continuous flow system. Lates calcarifer was fed with anthracene-contaminated feed at 5 different concentrations which is 0, 5, 10, 25, and 50 mg.kg"1. In another experiment, it fed with 50 mg.kg"1 PAHs-contaminated feed as simulation study to oil spill contaminated feed. Results reveal anthracene and PAHs was accumulated in L. calcarifer and reach steady state within 25 days. During depuration process, more than 80% of accumulated anthracene / PAHs were eliminated from fish.