Heavy metal in pen shells (Bivalvia-Pinnidae) at Merambong Island and Merambong Seagrass Shoal

Abstract

Pen shell of the family pinnidae is a popular food source and had high commercial value in a number of Asia-Pacific countries. Pen shell is also one of the important fisheries resources and it can easily be established as important commercial species. Environmental studies on pen shells species was conducted at Merambong Island and Merambong Seagrass shoal off South Western Johor coast, Malaysia. A total of 39 samples of pen shells were collected from two different stations during low tides. From the samples, four species of pen shells were identified. Among the 4 species, 3 species belonged to the genus Pinna (P.bicolor, P.deltodes, and P.atropurapurea) and one species was Atrina (A.vexillum). Seawater samples were collected during low tide (0-0.2m height) at four stations which located at Merambong Island and Merambong Seagrass Shoal. Concentration of heavy metal arsenic (As), cadminium (Cd), chromium (Cr), cooper (Cu), lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), nickel (Ni), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn) and zinc (Zn) were measured in water and soft tissues of the pen shells. The highest concentrations of heavy metal in water were As, Cu, and Hg in ranged between 0.100-0.142, 0.142-0.189, and 0.028-0.046 mg/L respectively. The highest metals were As, Cr and Hg in both of P.bicolor, P.deltodes, P.atropurapurea and A.vexillum. The highest concentration of metal in water and pen shells were recorded at Merambong Island, while the lowest concentration was recorded at Merambong Seagrass Shoal. Land based activities and waste discharged from nearby areas which includes oil refineries and power station are main source of metal pollution in the area.