Pollution Research Paper

MERCURY ABSORPTION IN TUBIFEX SP. WORM CONTAMINATED WITH METAL WASHING WASTE

IRAWATI MEI WIDIASTUTI, ASUS MAIZAR SURYANTO HERTIKA, MUHAMMAD MUSA AND DIANA ARFIATI

Abstract

Heavy metals are a source of water pollutants which is including mercury. Mercury has the highest toxicity than other metals and gets converted into methyl mercury which is more toxic when it enters to the waters. The characteristics of mercury are non degradable and bio accumulative not only in sediments but also in aquatic organisms. One of the aquatic invertebrates that can survive in the polluted waters is sludge worm (Tubifex sp.). The aims of this study were to observe the concentration of mercury in the waters, sediments, and Tubifex sp. and to understand the mercury absorption in Tubifex sp. worm through Hg-MT level test. The observation method was used in this study and the data were analyzed by using ANOVA. Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS) method was used for mercury concentration, and ELISA method was used to test the Hg-MT levels. The highest mercury concentration in the sediment (0.268±0.005 mg/L) was recorded at the S2 sample. The highest Hg-MT level also in the S2 sample (0.084±0.004 mg/L). The concentration of mercury in sediments is higher than in water and Tubifex sp., the areas close to the source of pollutants. Levels of Hg-MT in Tubifex sp. worms increases when the mercury concentration increases. Metallothionein (MT) in Tubifex sp. worms can be used as a biomarker which indicates in the body of Tubifex sp. worms had accumulated of mercury.