Heavy metals accumulation and risk assessment of Anadara granosa from eastern water of Java Sea, Indonesia

Abstract

Blood cockle (Anadara granosa) has been known as one of the high economic value clams and an important marine product in many different countries including Indonesia. Its filter feeder life cycle resulted in the vulnerability of this organism in accumulating metal pollutants from the sediment. Consumption of blood cockles contaminated with heavy metals might cause potential health risk to human. This study was conducted to assess heavy metals Fe and Zn accumulation in sediments and blood cockle tissues from eastern water of Java Sea and to investigate its health risk potential. Eastern water of Java Sea is polluted with heavy metals from high industrial and domestic activities. The results showed that Fe concentrations were found higher than the concentrations of Zn in both sediments and blood cockle tissues. Higher concentrations of Fe were observed in the sediments, while the concentrations of Zn were found higher in the cockle tissues. These distribution patterns resulted in higher bio- concentration factors (BCF > 1) of Zn compared to Fe (BCF < 1) indicating blood cockle accumulated more of Zn from the environment. The estimated daily intake (EDI) of blood cockles was found to be lower than oral reference doses (ORDs) for both metals, thus showing no potential human health risk in consuming the cockles. However, attention on the rate of consumption is still needed due to the ability of blood cockles to accumulate heavy metals from the contaminated environment that will bring hazard to human.