TRACES OF HEAVY METALS AND HEALTH RISKS OF FRESHWATER ASIAN CLAM (CORBICULA FLUMINEA) CONSUMPTION FROM TWO SITES IN LAGUNA LAKE, PHILIPPINESROMEO C. PATI AND ROSALINDA G. BRASOSAbstract The concentration of selected heavy metals and human health risks associated in consuming clam with traces of As were investigated. The clams were harvested in two clam habitats located in the eastern and central bay areas of Laguna Lake. Concentrations of Pb and Cd in pooled clam soft tissues were determined by Ashing Acid Digestion and Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission, respectively. The concentration of As was determined through Hydride Vapor Generation and Atomic Absorption Spectrometry. The health risks in clam consumption due to traces of As were estimated using the methodology developed by USEPA (2004). Traces of Cd and As at varying concentrations were detected in the pooled clam tissues in the study sites. Arsenic in clam tissues had concentrations ranging from 1.4 to 1.6 mg*kg-1 in Barangay Bangad, Binangonan Rizal. Cadmium had lower concentrations in clam tissues, equal to 0.04 mg*kg-1 in clam sites near Barangay Punta, Jala Jala, Rizal. Target hazard quotient estimates indicated that the concentrations of As in clam are below the values that can cause adverse non-carcinogenic health effects due to long-term consumption. On the other hand, the lifetime cancer risk estimates at 30% and 100% concentrations of inorganic As were all outside the recommended ranges of regulatory agencies abroad. The data indicated that clam consumers had the potential of developing a cancer if the consumption was high, frequent, and lifetime. |