Comparative assessment of selected heavy metals in fish and shellfish collected from Selangor and Kuantan Area, Malaysia

Marine organism's demands have increased rapidly during the last decade due to the increasing health consciousness of the consumers. Fish is the good source of protein in our daily diet. However the accumulation of hazardous substances in biota had lead to rapid increase in level of heavy metals in marine ecosystem. Industrial and agricultural activities are the main constituents of marine environmental pollution. This study was aim to determined the levels of some heavy metals in the gills, liver and flesh of two fish species (Rastrelliger kanagurta and Nemipterus japanicus) and one shellfish species (Anadara granosa). The concentration of metals include Ca, Zn, As, Cd, Hg and Pb were carried out using Inductively Couple Plasma Mass Spectrophotometer (ICP-MS). Potentially higher concentration of heavy metals found in fish and shellfish collected from Selangor area as compared to Kuantan area. This may due to geographical location of Selangor locate along Straits of Malacca, busiest shipping route in the world. Highest concentration of heavy metals found in gills followed by liver. However, the flesh of fish and shellfish collected from both area are safe to consume but fish and shellfish collected from Kuantan area posses less toxicity in term of heavy metals accumulation. Gills and liver of fish are not advisable to be consume because concentration of hazardous heavy metals exceed the permitted limit set by FAO/WHO 2004 as well as Food Act 1983 and Food Regulations 1985.