Elemental Composition and Health Risk Assessment of Giant Mudskipper (Periophthalmodon schlosseri) From the Intertidal Zone of the West Coast of Peninsular Malaysia

Ley Juen Looi,Hazzeman Haris,Noorain Mohd Isa,Ahmad Zaharin Aris,Fatimah Md Yusoff

doi:10.3389/fmars.2020.618284

Ley Juen Looi, Hazzeman Haris + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2020.618284

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Abstract

The elemental pollution in the intertidal zone of the West Coast of Peninsular Malaysia is of concern because this place is an ultimate sink of anthropogenic contaminants. In this study, the elemental concentrations (Al, Fe, Ba, Co, Cu, Cr, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn, As, and Cd) in various tissues (muscle, gill, liver, gastrointestinal tract, and scale) of the giant mudskippers (Periophthalmodon schlosseri) from the West Coast of Peninsular Malaysia were determined by the inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. The potential health risks associated with fish muscle consumption were assessed using estimated weekly intake (EWI), target hazard quotient (THQ), and target cancer risk (TR). The results showed that relatively high concentrations of Fe (1,641.91 ± 96.77 mg/kg), Ba (7.07 ± 0.05 mg/kg), Co (0.32 ± 0.00 mg/kg), Mn (36.08 ± 0.04 mg/kg), and Ni (4.43 ± 0.06 mg/kg) were found in the fish scales, suggesting the uptake waterborne elements via dermal exposure. However, all studied elements in the fish muscle were below the national and international food permissible limits. Health risk assessment through the estimation of THQ suggested that long-term exposure of As through fish consumption would cause possible non-carcinogenic risk. Also, the estimation of TR indicated that consumers are susceptible to cancer risks because of Cr and As exposure via fish consumption. Thus, for a developing country like Malaysia, it is recommended to include continuous monitoring of intertidal zones, using potential bioindicators, to assess ecosystem health status and safeguard human health. Additionally, mitigation strategies to address estuaries contamination and efforts to conserve and sustain natural resources should be established.

Highlights

The intertidal zone is a peculiar and narrow edge of intersection area where the land and the sea meet (Hwang et al, 2019)
Despite the quantity of ecosystem services provided by the intertidal zone, the area is facing unprecedented pressure brought by hinterland anthropogenic activities, such as industrial, agricultural, deforestation, fishing, logging, and mining, thereby affecting the aquatic organisms (Khatri and Tyagi, 2015; Madricardo et al, 2019; Veiga et al, 2019)
In Malaysia, much of scientific monitoring research related to elemental pollution in intertidal zones had been carried along the West Coast of Peninsular Malaysia (Yap et al, 2003a,b, 2009; Ikram et al, 2010; Yap and Pang, 2011; Haris and Aris, 2015) because the majority of industrial, agricultural, and economic activities are concentrated in this area (Shazili et al, 2006)

Summary

Introduction

The intertidal zone is a peculiar and narrow edge of intersection area where the land and the sea meet (Hwang et al, 2019). This area has various productive ecosystems, such as estuaries, mangroves, and mudflats, that serve as habitat for numerous species of aquatic organisms (Khaironizam and Norma-Rashid, 2005). Sediment acts as important sinks of trace elements and is able to retain contaminants from various pollution sources (Aris and Looi, 2015; Zhu et al, 2018; ThanhNho et al, 2019). Other potential bioindicators are yet to be revealed and used to reflect the health status of the aquatic system

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