Bioaccumulation of heavy metals (Cd, Pb, and Hg) in wawo worms (Polychaeta, Annelida) from Ambon Coastal Waters, Indonesia

Abstract

Heavy metals contamination in coastal waters is an environmental problem that has recently received serious attention. The accumulation of heavy metals in aquatic organisms can cause cell damage in humans who consume them. One of the organisms that can absorb heavy metals is the <em>laor</em> or <em>wawo</em> worm (Polychaeta) which is often consumed by the people in Ambon. This research was conducted to analyze heavy metals bioaccumulation in these worms. The heavy metals (Cd, Pb, and Hg) content in the marine waters and <em>wawo</em> worms was measured using AAS (Absorption Atomic Spectrophotometer). The results of the present research indicate fluctuation in heavy metals distribution in the water columns and <em>wawo</em> worms which were collected from three different locations. There was a significant relationship between heavy metals content in the water columns and the <em>wawo</em> worms. The coefficient of determination (0.424) showed that 42.4 % of heavy metals contained in the marine worms were affected by the heavy metals content in the water meanwhile the rest (57.6 %) was regulated by other variables that were not included in the current investigation.