ANALYSIS OF HEAVY METAL CONTENT IN Anandara granosa (Linnaeus, 1758): A CASE STUDY OF 10 MARKETS IN SEMARANG, CENTRAL JAVA, INDONESIA

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate Pb, Cr, and Cd levels inside the Anadara granosa and to investigate the effect of submersion using Citrus aurantifolia (lime) and Orthosiphon aristatus (kidney tea leaves) solution on Pb, Cr, and Cd levels contained in the blood cockles taken from 10 markets in the city of Semarang, Central Java, Indonesia (Johar, Genuk, Gayamsari, Jati, Peterongan, Karangayu, Mangkang, Pedurungan, Boom Lama, and Ngaliyan). The concentration of heavy metals of Anadara granosa was analyzed using Atomic Absorption Spectrometer (AAS). Analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed that heavy metals (Pb, Cd, and Cr) of blood cockle taken from 10 markets provided no significant difference (P < 0.05) on the content of Pb, Cd and Cr. Purification was carried out using Citrus aurantifolia (lime) and Orthosiphon aristatus (kidney tea leaves) solution. The lowest Pb (0.00 mg kg ) was obtained from Boom Lama and Peterongan market with purification using kidney tea leaves solution, while the lowest Cr [(0.30 ± 0.00) mg kg –1 ]) was obtained from Genuk market with lime solution. In addition, the lowest Cd (0.00 mg kg ) was obtained from Boom Lama market with purification using kidney tea leaves solution. Accumulation of heavy metal contamination in blood cockle could affect the micronutrient status and consumer health.