Journal of Sustainability Science and Management ISSN: 1823-8556 Special Issue Number 5, 2018 : 47-56 © Penerbit UMT METALS ACCUMULATION IN CULTURED TIGER GROUPER, Epinephelus fuscoguttatus WITH ESTIMATED WEEKLY IN TAKE LEVELS FROM EAST COAST OF PENINSULAR MALAYSIA NIK MOHMMAD AZMI NIK-NURASYIKIN, MOHD YUSOFF NURULNADIA*, ABU HASSAN MOHAMAD SOFI, AND SITI NURTAHIRAH JAAFAR School of Marine and Environmental Sciences, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030 Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia. *Corresponding author: [email protected] Abstract: This study focuses on quantifying metals concentration in muscles, gills and livers of cultured tiger grouper, Epinephelus fuscoguttatus. E. fuscoguttatus were sampled from the Semerak River, Kelantan (n=5) and the Setiu Wetland, Terengganu (n=20) in April and May 2016 respectively. The samples were digested according to microwave digestion method and analysed for iron (Fe), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), lead (Pb) and nickel (Ni) using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry Perkin Elmer Elan 9000 (ICP-MS). The bioaccumulation of metals (mg/kg, dry weight) follows the order of Fe> Zn> Cu> Ni> Pb and the concentration trend significantly increased from muscle to gill to liver, respectively (p<0.05). Liver was found as a good bioindicator of Fe, Cu and Zn accumulation in both study areas. In contrast, Pb and Ni accumulation in E. fuscogutatus from Semerak River were found higher in muscle than liver with 2.48±1.99 mg/kg dry weight and 16.3±4.10 mg/kg dry weight, respectively compared to 0.99±0.78 mg/kg dry weight and 2.47±1.42 mg/kg dry weight, respectively. It suggests potential sources of Pb and Ni into the study area that deserved further investigation. Level of Fe, Cu, Zn, Pb in E. fuscoguttatus were found below the standard permissible limit of Malaysian Food Regulation (MFR 1985) and World Health Organization (WHO 1989). The permissible limit for Ni is unavailable in MFR 1985, thus we have referred to WHO 1989. Level of Ni was found exceeding the WHO 1989, suggesting potential risk health effect on the consumer. However, the Estimated Weekly Intake (EWI) values are below the established provisional tolerable weekly intake (PTWI) indicates that E. fuscoguttatus from aquaculture cage in selected areas are safe for human consumptions. Further monitoring should be conducted in Semerak River as Pb and Ni were found highly concentrated in non-target organ, muscle. KEYWORDS: Tok Bali, Setiu Wetland, muscle, liver, gill, South China Sea Introduction metals such as iron (Fe), copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) are essential parts of biological systems, Metals contamination has attentively gained lead (Pb) and nickel (Ni) are toxic even in trace interest among researchers due to their ability amounts (Effendy et al., 2010; Yilmaz et al., to bioaccumulate in aquatic organism (e.g. fish, 2010). Essential metals are taken up by the fish bivalve, seaweed) which may pose threats to via sediment and water but non-essential metals human health through daily diet consumption also may accumulate in the tissues through (Nurulnadia et al., 2016; Griboff et al., 2017). the same route (Canli & Atli, 2003). When Recently, fish are widely used in biomarker- the concentration exceeds the threshold level, based monitoring due to their importance as even the essential metals will eventually cause the main source of protein for human and their intoxication. sensitivity towards environmental changes (Valon et al., 2013). Realizing this, Ptashynski Kamaruzzaman et al. (2011) suggested et al. (2002) emphasised the importance of that studies of metals concentration in fish are assessment of metal accumulation in fish for the crucial for nature management and human purpose of food safety and security. Although consumption. Studies on metals accumulation 48 METALS ACCUMULATION IN CULTURED TIGER GROUPER, Epinephelus fuscoguttatus WITH ESTIMATED WEEKLY IN TAKE LEVELS FROM EAST COAST OF PENINSULAR MALAYSIA on fish is not something new, but recently the and Terengganu. The estimated aquaculture risk factors’ calculation for the population has area is 900 x 200 m along Semerak River with gain attention among researchers (Agusa et al., two bridges connecting the river banks. The 2005; Cheung et al., 2008; Amirah et al., 2013; aquaculture site is located at one tributary of Damodharan & Reddy, 2013; Omar et al., 2013; main Semerak River. It is a semi-enclosed Ahmad & Sarah, 2015). In general, several lagoon with total area of 1.2 km2 with an established permissible limit (e.g. MFR 1985; average depth of 3.12 m (Samsudin et al., 2017). WHO 1989) values were referred to predict the Setiu Wetland is a part of the Setiu River basin. safe level for human consumption. However, Measuring 23,000 ha and the water column the value does not always represent the risk within the wetland is shallow and well mixed for human health (Copat et al., 2012). In this (Suratman et al., 2016). Setiu Wetlands is the respect, the Estimated Weekly Intake (EWI) largest natural wetlands in the East Coast region was calculated and compared to the provisional of Peninsular Malaysia, combining various tolerable weekly intake (PTWI) recommended ecosystems freshwater, seawater, brackish by WHO (2017). The similar assessment had water, and a 14 km lagoon. The cultured fish are been applied in Mediterranean region (Copat et usually marketed to locals and nearby markets. al., 2012; Renieri et al., 2014) and Turkey (Ateş et al., 2015). For that reason, in the present Early 2015, an oil and gas supply has study we aimed to determine the metals (i.e. commenced operation near to Semerak River, Fe, Cu, Zn, Pb and Ni) concentration in muscle, Kelantan. The existence of the supply base was gill, and liver tissues of cultured tiger grouper, followed by the construction of semi enclosed Epinephelus fuscoguttatus from Kelantan and breakwater and sand dredging activity near the Terengganu aquaculture cages and to calculate river mouth. This activity is predicted to disrupt its EWI. the ecology as well as contributing pollutants into the environment. Whereas, aquaculture Materials and Methods cage owners from Setiu Wetland, Terengganu Study Area claimed to suffer a total loss of cultured products and cages during massive flood happened in Sampling was conducted in Semerak River, 2014. Recompensing to the event, sand dredging Kelantan and Setiu Wetland, Terengganu activity is continuously operated. The dredging (Figure 1) which flow ultimately into South activities are known to cause new embedded China Sea. Semerak River is located in the Pasir pollutants to emerge as particulate in water and Puteh district, Kelantan while Setiu Wetland potentially accumulate in marine organisms located in Setiu district, Terengganu. Semerak such as fish. To this respect, the analysis was River is located approximately 50 km from Kota done in aquaculture areas from Semerak River, Bharu and 15 km from Kuala Besut, making Kelantan and Setiu Wetland, Terengganu. the river a natural border between Kelantan Journal of Sustainability Science and Management Special Issue Number 5, 2018 : 47-56 Nik Mohmmad Azmi Nik-Nurasyikin et al. 49 Figure 1: The map shows the sampling sites and sampling locations at the Semerak River and Setiu Wetland in Kelantan and Terengganu, respectively (A: Semerak River, Pasir Puteh, Kelantan and B: Setiu Wetland, Setiu, Terengganu). Samples Collection and Preparation Metals Digestion and Analysis Cultured E. fuscoguttatus were purchased from Metals concentration in the muscle, gill and the Semerak River cage (n=5) and Setiu Wetland livers were extracted by applying the microwave cage (n=20). Small sample size from Semerak digestion method as described by Türkmen et al. River was due to the sampling was done after (2005) with some modifications. Approximately harvesting period, thus only five individuals 0.05 g of each tissue samples were placed in were found suitable for the analysis. The range of Teflon beaker and introduced to high throughput body weight and total length of E. fuscoguttatus carousel (HTC) safety shield. The samples were were 178 to 380 g and 22 to 29 cm in the Semerak digested using 7 mL of nitric acid (HNO3) and 1 River; and 160 to 250 g and 21.5 to 27.3 cm in mL of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in a maximum the Setiu Wetland, respectively. To represent pressure of 100 bar and 300°C closed digestion health index of the fish, Fulton condition factors vessels (SK10, MILESTONE, Monroe, CT, (K) were calculated by multiplying 100 to body USA). weight (g) of individual E. fuscoguttatus over their [total length]3 in centimetre (cm). Prior to After the digestion process completed, analyses, glassware was soaked in 10% nitric the supernatant was thoroughly transferred into 10 mL polypropylene tube and mashed acid (HNO3) for 24 hours to remove non target compound that could possibly interfere with the to 10 mL with mili-Q water. Samples were analysis. E. fuscoguttatus were dissected using measured using inductively coupled plasma- ceramic knife in order to collect muscle, gill and mass spectrometer, ICP-MS (Perkin Elmer Elan liver samples. The tissues samples were then 9000). The quality assurance test was performed dried in the oven at 60˚C until constant weight using standard reference materials dogfish (dry weight) was obtained. The dried samples liver (DOLT-4) with percentage of recovery were then grounded using porcelain mortar and ranges between 94.8% to 116%. Analyses were pestle into powder form. performed in four replicates of standard samples Journal of Sustainability Science and Management Special Issue Number 5, 2018 : 47-56 50 METALS ACCUMULATION IN CULTURED TIGER GROUPER, Epinephelus fuscoguttatus WITH ESTIMATED WEEKLY IN TAKE LEVELS FROM EAST COAST OF PENINSULAR MALAYSIA with the standard deviation of all analysis within and comparisons with the standard permissible ± 25%. The results were presented in dry weight limits. The standard permissible limit act as a (dw) and wet weight (ww) in Table 1 and dry baseline value to safeguard human health.