BIOACCUMULATION AND HEALTH RISKS ASSESSMENT OF LEAD (PB) IN FRESHWATER ASIAN CLAMS (CORBICULA FLUMINEA, MÜLLER) FROM LAGUNA DE BAY, PHILIPPINESCHRISTIAN PAUL P. DE LA CRUZ, NESTOR M. DE VERA, LUSTINA P. LAPIE, MA. NEDA A. CATALMA AND ROSALINA V. BUNALAbstract The bioaccumulation of Pb and associated human health risks were investigated in the freshwater Asian clams (Corbicula fluminea) harvested from different coastal areas of Laguna de Bay, Philippines. Pb concentrations (mg kg-1) in pooled clam soft tissue samples were determined through atomic absorption spectrometry. The mean [Pb] in clam samples obtained from sampling zones near the urbanized towns of Los Baños (1.04±0.06) and Calamba (0.87±0.01) were relatively higher as compared to the clam samples collected adjacent to the rural towns of Bay (0.71±0.02), Victoria (0.75±0.10), and Kalayaan (0.66±0.03). All estimated dietary index (EDI) of [Pb] for both average clam consumers (0.76-1.00) and heavy clam consumers (1.13-2.00) exceeded the permissible limits for human consumption set by international regulatory agencies. Subsequent estimates of target hazard quotient (THQ) and target cancer risk (TR) showed higher scores for samples from Los Baños (THQ= 0.2-0.5). However, all computed THQs and TRs were within the threshold level, apparently suggesting the absence of potential non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic health effects on exposed human population. Meanwhile, the demonstration by Asian clams to efficiently accumulate Pb highlights their potential use as biological tools for monitoring of toxic heavy metal pollutants, particularly in Laguna Lake.
Enter your contact information below to receive full paper.
|