Lead Level Content of Tilapia Fish (Orechromis niloticus) in Palico River: An Analysis

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

People surrounding Palico river depend on it for their source of food. Trace metals are potentially accumulated in living tissue of marine organisms and subsequently transferred to man, however, all trace elements are toxic if consumed at sufficiently high levels for long periods specifically the element Lead. This study was conducted to prevent lead pollution disaster if there is and for better utilization of the potentially rich –man-made river.

METHODS

Descriptive Observational Method particularly the laboratory observation method was used in this study, in this method, the samples were tested in the laboratory and the results found when using laboratory observation are more accurate than those obtained with naturalistic observation.

RESULTS

According to the Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry or AAS test is done by the LQCC or Lipa Quality Control Center given to the tilapia fish that came from the market or commercial tilapia fish, lead content was not detected with the detection limit of 0.06 mg/kg. On the other hand, the same procedure, treatment, and test were done to the sample tilapia fish that came from Palico River and lead content was not detected also with the detection limit of 0.06 mg/kg. This means that there is no level of lead content found in the river.

DISCUSSIONS

Although tilapia fish caught from the Palico river and that from the local market as based on this study is declared lead free, it is recommended for testing the other traces of metals to be considered safe for human consumption and still recommended not to eat the fish caught from the river until proven safe by accredited government agency through further testing of other metal traces and other impurities.