Utilizing mollusk soft tissue and shells as biomarkers for monitoring heavy metal pollution in mangrove forests

Kumar Krishnan; Elias Saion; M K Halimah; Chee Kong Yap

doi:10.1016/j.mex.2023.102281

Utilizing mollusk soft tissue and shells as biomarkers for monitoring heavy metal pollution in mangrove forests

MethodsX. 2023 Jul 10:11:102281. doi: 10.1016/j.mex.2023.102281. eCollection 2023 Dec.

Authors

Kumar Krishnan¹, Elias Saion², M K Halimah², Chee Kong Yap³

Affiliations

¹ Inti International University, Persiaran Perdana BBN, 71800 Nilai, Darul Khusus, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia.
² Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, University Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia.
³ Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia.

Abstract

The primary objective of the study was to examine the distribution of various elements, namely Cadmium (Cd), Copper (Cu), Iron (Fe), Nickel (Ni), and Lead (Pb), in the soft tissues, shells, and associated surface sediments of Cerithidea obtusa (C. obtusa) mangrove snails collected from Sungai Besar Sepang. To conduct the analysis, the preferred and most convenient methods employed were Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis (INAA) and Atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS). The results showed that the mean concentration of elements in the sediments and soft tissues followed the order Fe > Cu > Ni > Pb > Cd, while for the shell of C. obtusa, it was Fe > Ni > Cu > Pb > Cd.•Iron (Fe) showed the highest concentration among all elements monitored in sediments, soft tissues, and shells of C. obtusa.•The PF results indicated higher incorporation of Pb and Ni into shells.•BSAF results showed that C. obtusa shells accumulated more Cu and Cd from sediments, making them effective biomonitors.

Keywords: Biomarkers for Monitoring Heavy Metal Pollution; Biomonitoring; Biota; Mangrove snails; Neutron activation; Toxic metals.