Biomonitoring–Health Risk Nexus of Potentially Toxic Metals on Cerithidea obtusa: A Biomonitoring Study from Peninsular Malaysia

Abstract

The present study aimed to assess the human health risks of six potentially toxic metals (PTMs) (Cd, Cu, Fe, Ni, Pb and Zn) in 21 populations of popular mangrove snails, Cerithidea obtusa, collected from Malaysia. In general, the concentrations (mg/kg wet weight) of Cd (0.03–2.32), Cu (11.4–35.2), Fe (40.9–759), Ni (0.40–6.14), Pb (0.90–13.4) and Zn (3.11–129) found in the snails in all populations were lower than the prescribed maximum permissible limits (MPL)s for Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn. However, in the investigated snail populations, Cd (14%), Pb (62%), Cu (19%), and Zn (10%) were found in exceedance of the MPL of the respective metal. The target hazard quotient (THQ) values in all populations for Cu, Ni, Fe and Zn were all found to be below 1.00. However, for the THQ values of Cd and Pb, two populations exceeded 1.00, while others were below the threshold level. The estimated weekly intake (EWI) of all six metals for all populations was only 0.03–4.65% of the provisional tolerable weekly intake. This conclusively indicates that, based on the EWI, there are no health risks of the six PTMs in the consumption of snails from Malaysia since the assessments are dependent on the consumers’ body weight and consumption rate. Nonetheless, the present results indicate that the amounts of snails consumed should be limited to minimize the potential health risks of PTMs to consumers. The relatively low and weak but positive correlations of Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn between C. obtusa and their habitat sediments indicate that C. obtusa can be a potential biomonitor for Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn. This is important for effective mangrove management from the perspective of the sustainable resources from the intertidal mangrove environment. Hence, the biomonitoring–health risk nexus of PTMs in mangrove snails is proposed in the present study.

Biomonitoring of Benthic Organisms for Coastal Protection: A Checklist Study from Pantai Remis and Blue Lagoon on the West Coast of Peninsular Malaysia

“…The present list can contribute to the maintenance of the seafood-water-energy nexus [37,38]. This is because this basic information is also related to the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals, namely, Goal 3 (good health and well-being) and Goal 15 (life on land), which are considered integrated into the conceptual relationship of the seafood-water-energy nexus [4].…”

“…First, the present list of benthic organisms can serve as baseline information for future references with similar or related future biomonitoring studies [13]. Second, the list can be used for the selection of potential biomonitors in ecotoxicological studies [4,12]. This usually involves chemical pollutants (or newly emerging pollutants) and microplastic quantification studies in these intertidal molluscs.…”

“…Third, these molluscs are also seafood resources for many local inhabitants. Therefore, the list is useful for public concerns since most of them are seafood delicacies [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10].…”

“…In many studies, biomonitoring of intertidal molluscs as seafood for the protection of coastal resources has always been reported in the literature [1][2][3][4][5][6]. There are also many reported studies on the relationships between the diversity of benthic edible intertidal seafood molluscs and coastal pollution levels [5][6][7][8][9][10].…”

“…There are also many reported studies on the relationships between the diversity of benthic edible intertidal seafood molluscs and coastal pollution levels [5][6][7][8][9][10]. It is postulated that the low biodiversity of benthic organisms can be a result of human activities that contributed to the elevation of chemical contaminants in the coastal ecosystem [4]. However, information on the biodiversity (or checklist) of benthic organisms in a coastal area needs to be provided regularly (possibly every five years if not yearly).…”