Heavy metal (Hg, Cd, Pb, Cu) in the long whiskered catfish (Mystus gulio Hamilton, 1822) in Bojonegara Coastal Waters of Banten Bay, Indonesia

Abstract

Anthropogenic activities such as industrial, domestic, and shipping are the main contributors to the entry of heavy metals into the Banten Bay and the surrounding areas. This research was conducted from August to October 2020 in the coastal waters of Bojonegara, Banten Bay. This study aims to estimate the accumulation of heavy metals (Hg, Cd, Pb and, Cu) contained in long whiskered catfish (Mystus gulio Hamilton, 1822) and to determine the tolerance limit for consumption the fish in the Bojonegara coastal waters of Banten Bay. Fish samples were taken using the purposive sampling once per month. Based on the analysis, the heavy metal content in the fish meat were <0.001 mg/kg (Hg), <0.005 mg/kg (Cd), <0.030 mg/kg (Pb) and 0.699-10.920 mg/kg (Cu); the values were less than NADFC of Indonesia (2018) and the Regulation of the Minister of Health Republic of Indonesia 382/1989 with a standard of 0.500 mg/kg (Hg), 0.100 mg/kg (Cd), 0.200 mg/kg (Pb), 20 mg/kg (Cu). The fish caught in Bojonegara Coastal Waters of Banten Bay have moderate to high accumulation levels of Copper (Cu). The safety level for Mystus gulio is 16.03 kg fish/week (for adults) and 4.81 kg fish/week (for children).