Health risk assessment of selected heavy metals bioaccumulation in Laguna de Bay fish products / Victorio B. Molina ; Maria Victoria O. Espaldon, chair, advisory committee.

Date

4-2011

Abstract

This study provides an assessment of the risks to human health associated with the exposure to heavy metals bioaccumulation in fish products from Laguna de Bay. Sample of five edible fish species, namely: Bangus, Bighead Carp, Dalag, Kanduli, and Tilapia were collected in eight sampling stations in three major areas of the lake during the dry and wet seasons. Dry season samples were collected from May to June 2010 and wet season samples from September to November 2010. Coordinates of sampling site locations were recorded using Global Positioning System (GPS) and plotted in locations were recorded using Global Positioning System (GIS) digital maps. Heavy metals analyses for Cadmium (Cd), Lead (Pb), Mercury (HG), Arsenic (As), and Chromium (Cr) were conducted using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS) and Mercury Analyzer (Mercur-Duo). Estimates of health risks associated with fish consumption were summarized according to non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic health effects. Non-carcinogenic Health Quotient (NHQ) values of five heavy metals showed that lead is the most urgent pollutant of concern in terms of adverse health effects from risks associated with fish consumption from all sampling locations in the lake. Elevated health risk for Mercury exposure was also evident in the west bay and central bay particularly for dalag and kanduli species. Among the five heavy metals only Arsenic is a confirmed human carcinogen (Class A) through the oral route of exposure. The highest life time cancer risk for arsenic was computed for tilapia from sampling station 2B (west bay) during the dry season with risk value of 0.00085 or an excess of 85 cancer cases per 100,000 populations. The lowest life time cancer risk for arsenic is computed for dalag, tilapia, and kanduli from all sampling stations except 1B and 4 (northern west bay and south bay) during the wet season with risk value of 0.00000097 or 1 cancer case per 10,000,000 populations. From the point of view of human health protection and disease prevention, fish products from the lake particularly bangus, bighead carp, dalag, kanduli and tilapia are not fit for human consumption primarily due to lead contamination.

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy in Environmental Science

College

Graduate School (GS)

Adviser/Committee Chair

Maria Victoria O. Espaldon

Committee Member

Carmelita M. Rebancos, Enrique P. Pacardo, Maxima E. Flavier

Language

English

LC Subject

Fishes -- Laguna de Bay (Philippines), Laguna de Bay, Health risk assessment, Fishes, Heavy metals, Environmental Science School of Environmental Science and Management

Location

UPLB Main Library Special Collections Section (USCS)

Call Number

LG 996 2011 E8 M65

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