Distribution of mercury in sediments, plant and animal tissues in Matang Mangrove Forest Reserve, Malaysia

• Published in: Journal of hazardous materials 2020-04, Vol.387, p.121665, Article 121665
• Main Authors: Wolswijk, Giovanna, Satyanarayana, Behara, Dung, Le Quang, Siau, Yin Fui, Ali, Ahmad Nazila Bin, Saliu, Ibrahim Sunkanmi, Fisol, Muhammad Amir Bin, Gonnelli, Cristina, Dahdouh-Guebas, Farid
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Bivalvia - chemistry; Environmental Monitoring; Environmental Pollutants - analysis; Fauna; Gastropoda - chemistry; Geologic Sediments - chemistry; Hg partitioning; Malaysia; Mangrove sediment; Mercury - analysis; Plant Leaves - chemistry; Plant Roots - chemistry; Pollution; Rhizophora; Rhizophoraceae - chemistry; Toxic elements; Wetlands
• ISSN: 0304-3894; 1873-3336
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2019.121665

[Display omitted] •This study provides reliable information on the distribution of Hg at the Matang Mangrove Forest Reserve in Malaysia.•Hg was found prevalently in leaves rather than in roots or bark tissues, coming probably from atmospheric deposition.•Bioaccumulation of Hg could be observed in mangrove gastropods.•The pollution level of sediments at Matang appeared low and cockle cultured in the mangrove creeks safe for consumption. Charcoal production activities at the Matang Mangrove Forest Reserve (MMFR) in Peninsular Malaysia have a potential to emit volatile compounds such as Hg back into the ambient environment, raising concerns on the public health and safety. The present study was aimed at analyzing Hg concentration from different plant/animal tissues and sediment samples (in total 786 samples) to understand clearly the Hg distribution at the MMFR. Leaves of Rhizophora spp. showed higher Hg concentration with an increasing trend from young, to mature, to senescent and decomposing stages, which was possibly due to accumulation of Hg over time. The low Hg concentration in Rhizophora roots and bark suggests a limited absorption from the sediments and a meagre accumulation/partitioning by the plant tissue, respectively. In the case of mangrove cockles the concentration of Hg was lower than the permissible limits for seafood consumption. Although the mangrove gastropod - Cassidula aurisfelis Bruguière had rather elevated Hg in the muscle tissue, it is still less than the environmental safely limit. Beside the chances of atmospheric deposition for Hg, the sediment samples were found to be unpolluted in nature, indicating that in general the MMFR is still safe in terms of Hg pollution.