Malaysian Journal of Analytical Sciences Vol 19 No 4 (2015): 669 - 678

 

 

 

ACCUMULATION OF MERCURY (HG) AND METHYL MERCURY (MEHG) CONCENTRATIONS IN SELECTED MARINE BIOTA FROM MANJUNG COASTAL AREA

 

(Pengumpulan Kepekatan Raksa (Hg) dan Metil Raksa (MeHg) dalam Hidupan Laut yang Terpilih dari Kawasan Pantai Manjung)

 

Anisa Abdullah¹*, Zaini Hamzah¹, Ahmad Saat^1,2, Abd Khalik Wood¹, Masitah Alias³

 

¹Faculty of  Applied Sciences,

 ²Institute of Science,

Universiti Teknologi MARA,40450, Shah Alam Selangor, Malaysia

³TNB Research Sdn. Bhd.,

Kawasan Institusi Penyelidikan, 43000 Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia

 

*Corresponding author: coppering@ymail.com

 

 

Received: 5 May 2015; Accepted: 29 June 2015

 

 

Abstract

Level of mercury (Hg) and methyl mercury (MeHg) in marine ecosystem has been intensively studied as these toxic substances could be accumulated in the marine biota. This study is focusing on the Hg and MeHg content in marine biota in Manjung coastal area. This area has high potential being affected by rapid socio-economic development of Manjung area such as heavy industrial activities (coal fired power plant, iron foundries, port development and factories), agricultural runoff, waste and toxic discharge, quarries, housing constructions. It may has a potential risk when released into the atmosphere and dispersed  on  the surface of water and continue deposited at the bottom of the water and sediment and being absorbed by marine biota. The concentrations of Hg and MeHg in marine ecosystem can be adversely affect human health when it enters the food chain. In this study, five species of marine biota including Johnius dussumieri (Ikan Gelama), Pseudorhombus malayanus (Ikan Sebelah), Arius maculatus (Ikan Duri), Portunus pelagicus (Ketam Renjong) and Charybdis natator (Ketam Salib) were collected during rainy and dry seasons. Measurements were carried out using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) technique. The Hg concentrations for dry and rainy season are in the range 65.13-102.12 µg/kg and 75.75-106.10 µg/kg respectively, while for MeHg concentrations for dry and rainy seasons are in the range 4.35-6.26 µg/kg and 5.42-6.46 µg/kg, respectively. These results are below the limit set by Malaysia Food Act (1983). Generally, marine biota from the Manjung coastal area is safe to consume due to low value of ingestion dose rate and health risk index (HRI) for human health.

 

Keywords: mercury, methyl mercury, marine biota

 

Abstrak

Tahap kandungan raksa (Hg) dan metil raksa (MeHg) dalam ekosistem marin telah dikaji secara intensif sebagai bahan toksik yang berkemungkinan terkumpul dalam hidupan laut. Kajian ini memberi tumpuan kepada kandungan raksa (Hg) dan metil raksa (MeHg) dalam hidupan laut di kawasan perairan pantai Manjung. Kawasan Manjung ini terlibat dengan pembangunan sosio-ekonomi yang pesat seperti aktiviti berat (loji janakuasa arang batu, kilang besi, pelabuhan dan kilang-kilang), pengaliran air daripada pertanian, perlepasan toksik, kuari dan pembinaan perumahan. Ia berisiko apabila terdedah ke atmosfera dan tersebar di permukaan air dan terus disimpan di bahagian bawah badan air dan sedimen dan diserap oleh hidupan laut. Kepekatan raksa (Hg) dan metil raksa (MeHg) dalam ekosistem marin boleh menjejaskan kesihatan manusia apabila terdedah melalui rantai makanan. Dalam kajian ini, lima spesis hidupan laut iaitu Ikan Gelama (Johnius dussumieri), Ikan Sebelah (Pseudorhombus malayanus), Ikan Duri (Arius maculatus), Ketam Renjong (Portunus pelagicus) and Ketam Salib (Charybdis natator) telah diambil semasa musim panas dan hujan. Spektrometri jisim gandingan plasma teraruh (ICP -MS) teknik digunakan dalam pengukuran. Kepekatan Hg untuk musim panas dan hujan, masing-masing adalah dalam julat 65.13-102.12 µg/kg dan 75.75-106.10 µg/kg manakala, kepekatan MeHg untuk musim panas dan hujan pula masing-masing dalam julat 4.35-6.26 µg/kg and 5.42-6.46 µg/kg. Keputusan kajian menunjukkan kepekatan Hg adalah di bawah had yang telah ditetapkan oleh Akta Makanan Malaysia (1983). Keseluruhannya, hidupan laut dari kawasan perairan pantai Manjung adalah selamat untuk dimakan disebabkan oleh kadar dos pengambilan dan indeks risiko kesihatan adalah rendah untuk kesihatan manusia.

 

Kata kunci: raksa, metil raksa, hidupan laut

 

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