Accumulation of heavy metals in Avicennia marina and Bruguiera cylindrica of Setiu and Kuantan

Abstract

Avicennia marina and Bruguiera cylindrica leaves, barks, roots and sediments samples were collected from Setiu and Kuantan mangrove forests which then analyzed for Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn. The roots of B. cylindrica showed the highest concentration of each metal (Cd = 0.143μglg; Cu = 4.97 μg/g; Pb = 1.47 μg/g; Zn = 22.68 μgig) in Setiu and A. marina roots (Cd = 0.079 μgig; Cu = 4.93 μg/g; Pb = 2.31 ug/g; Zn = 23.42 pg/g) in Kuantan. Concentration factor results showed that A. marina had a higher degree of metals' storage compare to B. cylindrica of heavy metals which indicate that A. marina accumulates more metals. Heavy metals concentration in sediment of Kuantan mangroves is higher than Setiu. Respectively, the metals level in the mangrove plants was under the surrounding sediment's metal levels but above natural level of metal uptake by plants. The high level uptake of metals by both mangrove species indicates that there was metals contamination in the mangrove area. The success of A. marina and B. cylindrica in both Setiu and Kuantan mangrove forest most likely due to the plants' ability to actively avoid uptake of metals, even when sediment concentrations were high.