Assessing the Target Hazard Risks of Cadmium Pollutant due to Consumption of Aquatic Biota and Food Snack Among School Children in Tallo Coastal Area of Makassar

Abstract

Background and Objective: Cadmium is used extensively in various industrial processes in the city of Makassar, South Sulawesi, as a results it potential lead to hazard pollutions both to the environment and to the human being. This study aimed to assess the potential target hazard risks of cadmium due to consumption of aquatic biota and food snack among school children in Makassar Coastal areas. Materials and Methods: This study applied an analytic observational study used a cross sectional approach design and target hazard risk assessment approach. Investigation of Cd in aquatic system for surface water, sediment, shells and crab and in terrestrial for surface soil and school snack were commenced for Cd level concentrations. Then, Target Hazard Quotient (THQ) was calculated to find out whether the Cd contaminated food consumed by school children in school have exceeded the allowable standard or still safe to be consumed.Thematerials used are hot plate, glassware commonly used in laboratory and spectrophotometer absorption graphite furnace (Hitachi Z-5000 polarized Zeeman atomic absorption spectrometry). Results: This study revealed that Cd concentration in aquatic system for surface water, sediment, shell and crab were 0.016 mL L^-1, 0.026, 0.012 and 0.023 mg g^-1, respectively. Furthermore, Cd concentration in terrestrial system for surface soil, school snack and ambient air were 0.0411 mL m^-3, 0.016 and 0.006 mg g^-1, respectively. All values resulted from the laboratory test were exceeded the acceptable level stated both by World Health Organization and Health Ministry of Republic of Indonesia with 0.01 mL LG1 for water,0.001 mg gG1 for aquatic biota and school snacks, except for sediment with 70 mg gG1 that still below the standard, respectively. The risk quotient value for THQ due to consume shell and crab were 0.0046 and 0.0011, respectively whereas THQ value for consuming cake in the school was 0.0025. Those values indicated that no risks exist since it still <1 or consumption of those aquatic biota and snacks still save. Conclusion: To sum up, the concentration of Cd both in aquatic and terrestrial system have been exceeded the allowable level for environmental standard, although the THQ values still below than 1, that means still safe for all those food to be consumed.