Assessment of Health Risk from Metals Accumulation from Consumption of Carbicula fluminea

Heavy metal pollution had become a great concern nowadays as it gives a bad effect to human health. Corbicula fluminca was a clams that frequently consumed by local people in Kelantan. In this study, heavy metals concentration in Corbicula fluminea consumed by local people were determined and the possible human health effects were evaluated using Target Hazard Quotients (THQ. Five heavy metals were determined which are Cadmium (Cd), Arsenic (As), Lead (Pb), Copper (Cu) and Zinc (Zn). The sample were collected at Tumpat, Kelantan where the study area were surrounded by agricultural activities and housing settlement. The sample undergoes wet digestion process before analysed by Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). The limit of heavy metals concentrations in aquatic species for consumption has been set for human health by Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Accumulation of heavy metals in the species was found to be high for cadmium. Meanwhile, both arsenic and lead have a very low level of metal concentration in the species. However, copper and zinc were not detected by the ICP- MS. Based on the result obtained, cadmium exceed the permissible limit set by the FAO. However, the THQ calculated was below one which means there is least chance of carcinogenic effects to human health.