Levels of cadmium, copper, lead, nickel and mercury in the muscles of Pigok (Mesopristes cancellatus) and sediments collected at lower Agusan river basin, Brgy. Pagatpatan, Butuan City, Agusan Del Norte, Philippines

Abstract

Levels of Cadmium (Cd), Copper (Cu), Lead (Pb), Nickel (Ni) and Mercury (Hg) in the muscles of Pigok (Mesopristes cancellatus) and sediments collected from the lower Agusan River Basin, Brgy. Pagatpatan, Butuan City, Agusan Del Norte was determined. Sediments from three stations along lower Agusan River where the fishes were caught were also analyzed for Cd, Cu, Pb, Ni and Hg concentrations. The heavy metal concentrations in the muscles were found in the order of Pb>Cu>Hg>Cd>Ni while for the sediments, the order of heavy metal concentration were found to be of Ni>Cu>Pb>Cd>Hg. In fish muscles, Lead (Pb) concentrations were found the highest (30.056 ± 0.475 ppm) while in sediments, Ni concentrations were found highest (121.389 ± 2.845 ppm). Lead (Pb) concentrations of muscle samples were found to be above the values recommended by US EPA which is ≥0.5 ppm however, Pb in sediments was below the standard values recommended by FAO and WHO. The concentration of metals in the muscles were significantly higher than that of the sediments (P