The Content of Heavy Metals (Lead, Cadmium, and Mercury) in Gastropods Cellana Testudinaria and C. Radiata Attained in the Reclamation Coastal Waters of Manado Bay

Abstract

Objective: Coastal waters are a repository for various potential wastes from various human activities both on land and at sea so that these ecosystems can be used as indicators in monitoring and evaluating the condition of natural resources and the environment.   Method: The samples were kept in the coolbox and transferred to the Laboratory of the Fish Quarantine Center for Quality Control and Safety of Fishery Products (BKIPM) Bitung. The heavy metals analysis was also performed in this Laboratory.   Results: The results of the analysis of heavy metals Mercury (Hg) showed that C. testudinaria shellfish had higher levels of mercury (Hg) (1.01 mg/g) compared to C. radiatashells (0.83 mg/g). The content of these heavy metals was below the threshold limits determined by BSN (2016). Thus the Gastropod shells of the types C. testudinaria and C. radiata are safe for application to food and non-food products. The low content of heavy metals in C. testudinaria and C. radiataindicates that Manado Bay waters are safe and not polluted by heavy metals.   Conclusions: On the basis of all results, it can be concluded that the gastropod shellfish types Cellana testudinaria and C. radiata obtained values for lead (Pb) of 0.53 mg/g and 0.37 mg/g, cadmium (Cd) with values of 2.30 mg/g and 2.00 mg/g, and mercury (Hg) is 1.01 mg/g, and 0.83 mg/g. The content of these heavy metals is still below the threshold set by the government, so it is safe to be applied to food and non-food products.