A study on the cadmium, copper, lead and zinc content of Tilapia nilotica and water collected from Laguna de Bay

The concentration levels of cadmium, copper, lead and zinc in Tilapi nilotica and water from two sites along Laguna de Bay were analyzed once a month for six months. The determination of the heavy metal content of both the fish and water samples were done using the atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The specific fish tissues analyzed were the intestine, liver and muscle. The level of bioaccumulation among the organs was in the following decreasing order: intestine \u3e liver \u3e muscle. The intestine contained 8.5875 - 11.7070 mg/ L, 0.7835 - 1.0555 mg/ L, 0.8310 - 1.8600 mg/ L, and 21.4300 - 24.5305 mg/ L for cadmium, copper, lead and zinc respectively whereas liver contained 8.0790 - 8.5020 mg/L. (cadmium), 0.6530 - 0.7970 mg/ L (copper), 0.6500 - 1.4025 mg/ L (lead) and 6.6390 - 10.0900 mg/ L (zinc). For muscle, it contained 1.7375 - 3.1935 mg/L, 0.0925 - 0.1450 mg/ L, 0.3325 - 0.8585 mg/ L and 6.9950 - 7.1925 mg/ L likewise respectively for cadmium, copper, lead and zinc. Cadmium, copper and lead monitored in the water samples exceeded the criteria set by Department of Environment and Natural Resources