Kandungan Merkuri dalam Ikan Konsumsi di Wilayah Bantul dan Yogyakarta

Abstract

<strong>Mercury Content in Commercial Fishes of Bantul Areas and Yogyakarta. </strong> Mercury Content in Commercial Fishes of Bantul Areas and Yogyakarta Fish is an important energy source for the body and has many functions for human health. Hence, the fish are highly favored for consumption by the public. However, the fish has the ability to accumulate heavy metals. One type of dangerous heavy metals and can accumulate in fish is mercury because it has high toxicity at low concentrations. The presence of contaminants from anthropogenic activities that are not processed previously, makes the fish a potential hoarder for heavy metals. This study examined the concentration of mercury in freshwater fish and saltwater fish consumed by the people of Bantul areas and Yogyakarta. Fish samples were collected on 29–30 August 2015 from Prawirotaman Market, supermarket, Embankment on the River Code, and purchased from fishermen in Depok Beach. Analysis of mercury concentrations in fish was done using mercury analyzer NIC MA-3000. The results indicated that the fish with the eating habits of benthivore and planktivore accumulated higher mercury than omninore and carnivore fish. The concentration of mercury in the fish examined does not exceed the threshold of the WHO standard, BPOM-RI, and European Union standards. However, the people need to be alert on mercury bioaccumulative properties, especially when consuming the fish having accumulated mercury continuously for a long time.