Health risk assessment of heavy metals via dietary intake of Shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) from Selangor / Nur Safiyyah Ishak

Litopenaeus vannamei is native to the Eastern Pacific coast from Sonora, Mexico. It lives in tropical marine areas where water temperatures are normally >20°C throughout the year. Since anthropogenic pollutants are the main sources of heavy metal contaminants in the ocean, the pollutants generated can cause accumulation of heavy metal in shrimp through their feed, seawater and/or sediment that may exceed the levels of safety for consumers. Therefore it is important to carry out a study to determine heavy metal concentrations accumulated in the shrimp species. Samples of L. vannamei were collected from twenty local markets throughout Selangor during April until May 2015. Four heavy metals; Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn, whole body parts and both months were analysed. Samples were digested according to Iqbal et al., 2002 acid-digestion method and then Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn concentrations were determined by Flame Atomic Absorbtion Spectrophotometry (FAAS. The results showed heavy metal concentrations in whole body in descending order as follows: Zn>Cu>Pb>Cd. However, lead concentrations in all local market were high and exceed Food Regulation 1985 and Food Standard Code for Australia and New Zealand (Shellfish) and some of cadmium concentration are also exceeding the legal requirement. In addition, the heavy metal concentration in each local market are varies with highest are Banting wet market (Cu: 48.504 mg/kg ), Sg. Besar wet market (Cd: 3.082 mg/kg), Shah Alam section 16 (Pb: is 4.8665 mg/kg) and Serendah wet market (Zn: 76.9915 mg/kg ). There were no significant differences between the heavy metal concentration in the species and time samples collected (P>0.05). Health risk assessment found out that there are likely potential adverse health effect that is associate with the exposure of copper, cadmium and lead (HI> 1) and there is no adverse health effect associated with the exposure of zinc concentration (HI<l) via shrimps comsumption.