Determination of heavy metal contamination and health risk assessment between ex-mining pond and river fish / Nooraini Jamal

Anthropogenic activities continuously increase the amount of heavy metals in the environment, especially in aquatic ecosystem. Increase in population, urbanization, industrialization and agriculture practices have further aggravated the pollution of heavy metals in aquatic ecosystem. As heavy metals cannot be degraded, they are deposited, assimilated or incorporated in water, sediment and aquatic animals and thus, causing heavy metal pollution in water bodies. Therefore, heavy metals can be bioaccumulated and biomagnified via the food chain and finally assimilated by human consumers resulting in health risks. The study was conducted in an ex-minlnq pond at Kampung Gumut Tambahan, Kalumpang, Selangor. This ex-rninlnq pond was reclaimed into aquaculture activity. The study design is cross-sectional study. Sampling data collection using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (Perkin Elmer AA800) and also questionnaire which is distributed to respondents (n=35). The statistical analysis is done using statistical package for the social science (SPSS) version 17.0. The study was found that there is heavy metal detected in freshwater fish except for Tin. There is significance difference in different type of fish for lead and cadmium (p<0.05) while no significance difference for mercury with p=0.201. There is significance difference between ex-mininq pond fish and river fish for lead and mercury concentration with p=0.015 and p=0.00. No significance difference between the ex-rnininq pond and river fish for cadmium concentration with p=0.679. All heavy metals are below the standard limit provided in Food Regulations 1985. The Hazard Index for Cd and Hg was below than 1. Heavy metal was detected in freshwater fish at ex-rninlnq pond and river. There is also significance different between the-concentration of heavy metal in fish from ex­ mining pond and river. The level of heavy metal in the fish at ex-rnlninq pond is below the limit stated in the Food Regulation 1985 and the fish are safe for consumption.