Assessing Heavy Metals in The Waters, Fish and Macroinvertebrates in Manila Bay, Philippines

Glenn Sia Su, Kristine Joy Martillano, Tessa Paula Alcantara, Elena Ragragio, Josefina De Jesus, Arnold Hallare
And Gliceria Ramos, 2009. Assessing Heavy Metals in the Waters, Fish and Macroinvertebrates in Manila Bay,
ISSN 0126-2807
Philippines.
Volume 4, Number 3: 187-195, September-December, 2009
T2009 Department of Environmental Engineering
Sepuluh Nopember Institute of Technology, Surabaya
& Indonesian Society of Sanitary and Environmental Engineers, Jakarta
Open Access http://www.trisanita.org
Research Paper
ASSESSING HEAVY METALS IN THE WATERS, FISH AND

MACROINVERTEBRATES IN MANILA BAY, PHILIPPINES
GLENN SIA SU1*, KRISTINE JOY MARTILLANO1, TESSA PAULA ALCANTARA1, ELENA
RAGRAGIO2, JOSEFINA DE JESUS1, ARNOLD HALLARE2 and GLICERIA RAMOS1
1De
La Salle University, 2401 Taft Avenue, Manila, Philippines.

of the Philippines Manila, Padre Faura St., Manila Philippines.
2University
*Corresponding
Author: Phone/fax: +63-2-536-0228. Email: glss76@yahoo.com.
Received: 6th August 2009; Revised: 28th September 2009; Accepted: 29th November 2009
Abstract: This study assessed the heavy metals particularly total cadmium, total lead
and total chromium in the waters, fish and macroinvertebrates in Manila Bay,
Philippines. The heavy metals monitoring in the waters of Manila Bay were carried out
for six consecutive months, September to February of 2007-2008, covering both wet
and dry periods. The collection of fishes and macroinvertebrates in this investigation
lasted from September to November 2007. Results showed that the heavy metals
particularly total chromium, total lead and total cadmium were evident in the waters,
fish and macroinvertebrates. Significant differences on the total cadmium and total lead
in the waters were noted for both the wet and dry periods. Accumulation of heavy
metals in the aquatic organisms was species dependent. Highest heavy metal
concentrations among the tissues in the studied fishes were evident in the liver as
compared to the muscle. Continuous heavy metals monitoring is encouraged to
effectively analyze the risk and impact of heavy metals on the environment and on the
general publics welfare.
Keywords: Cadmium, chromium, lead, fish, macroinvertebrate
INTRODUCTION
The Manila Bay is land lock by Metro Manila and the municipalities of Bataan, Bulacan,
Cavite and Pampanga and is situated at the Southwestern part of Luzon. Manila Bay is popular
among the Filipinos and tourists for the numerous benefits it provides. Manila Bay is known for
its picturesque view, recreational benefits, livelihood opportunities, ecotourism benefits and
habitats to a number of terrestrial and aquatic organisms [1]. Recently, a coastal lagoon in Manila
Bay has been declared as Metro Manilas critical habitat and identified as one of the countrys
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Journal of Applied Sciences in Environmental Sanitation, 4 (3): 187-195.
Philippines.
important wetlands [2] as numerous endemic wildlife species, migratory birds, mudflats and
mangrove resources are found. However, with the critical condition of this habitat, it is
continuously threatened with pollution.
In the recent years, the concern over heavy metal pollution in the marine environment has
become a rising concern due to the human activities that contribute significantly to the release of
these heavy metals in the environment particularly in the Manila Bay. According to a study [3] that
heavy metals in the environment are brought about primarily by anthropogenic sources though
heavy metals are a natural part of the environment and provide numerous benefits to society.
Most of the heavy metals that get deposited in most water bodies are due to those coming from
coal and oil combustion, internal combustion engines, local point sources, and in direct deposition
from air pollution, and bedrock geology and soils [3]. This grave concern posed by heavy metals
in the environment creates an immense threat to the existence of organisms thriving in the area,
to the ecological integrity of the habitat as these heavy metals may enter the food chains, persist
in the environment, bioaccumulate and biomagnify and increase the exposure to public health
risks. To date, there have been few Philippines studies that dealt in determining the heavy metals
in the surface water quality of the Las Pinas-Paranaque lagoon of Manila Bay but no study has
explored on the concentrations of these heavy metals in the biota. With these concerns, this
study aims to assess the extent of heavy metal pollution particularly by total lead, total chromium
and total cadmium concentrations of the waters and aquatic biota caught from the coastal lagoon
of Manila Bay. Results of this study may contribute significantly to our current knowledge
particularly on the present state of the Manila Bay particularly in the coastal lagoon recently
proclaimed as the metropolis critical habitat. This study presents the first common baseline data
for heavy metals in the coastal lagoon of Manila Bay. Government and non-government
agencies may likewise benefit from this study as the results provides a benchmark information
that may provide the basis for the measures that these institutions need in developing and
implementing safeguards for the countrys natural resources and the environment in general.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Grab water samples were collected following the sampling procedures of [4] and were
examined for heavy metals concentrations particularly total cadmium, total chromium and total
lead. Water samples were obtained in five sampling points in the coastal lagoon of Manila Bay
for six consecutive months, September to February 2008 covering both the dry and the wet
periods. The sampling points of the coastal lagoon of Manila Bay were between the 1402906.4
North and 12005918.4 East coordinates.
Water samples collected were acid digested with nitric acid (Merck, Germany) following the
standard procedures of the American Public Health Association (APHA), American Waterworks
Association (AWWA) and Water Environmental Foundation (WEF) [5]. Acid digested water
samples were analyzed using the Shimadzu AA-6300 atomic absorption spectrophotometer
(Shimadzu Scientific Instruments, Inc., Kyoto, Japan). The surface water quality criteria used for
interpreting results were obtained from the 1990 Department of Environment and Natural
Resources (DENR)-Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) Administrative Order No. 34
series of 1990 for Class C waters (1990) [6].
A local fisherman caught the fishes and macroinvertebrates assessed for heavy metals
during the months of September to November 2007 using a trawl net at the coastal lagoon of
Manila Bay. The collection of samples using the bottom trawl fishing method started from the
188
Philippines.
north end of the lagoon going to the south and then back to the starting point again which is the
north end. Fishes and macroinvertebrates collected were immediately processed. For each fish
and macroinvertebrate encountered, the scientific name (identification), length (measured with a
ruler) and weight (using a digital scale) were recorded. All fishes and macroinvertebrates were
identified through the www.fishbase.org. Fishes were dissected for their liver and muscle while
the muscles and gills from the macroinvertebrates were obtained. All collected fish and
macroinvertebrates samples were ash and the wet digestion method was used in the analysis for
the heavy metals total cadmium, total chromium and total lead following the Standard Procedures
of [5] before using the Shimadzu AA-6300 atomic absorption spectrophotometer (Shimadzu
Scientific Instruments, Inc., Kyoto, Japan). Appropriate controls and standards and calibration
curves were prepared for each of the variables that were tested in the fish, macroinvertebrates
and water samples. Duplicate samples were tested and read in triplicate.
Fig. 1: The study site and the sampling points

Results of the water samples tested for heavy metals were analyzed for significant
differences on the extent of heavy metals pollution in the coastal lagoon of Manila Bay between
the wet and the dry periods of collection using the t-test for paired observations. The t-test
assumed that all the variables analyzed were normally distributed with a 95% significance level.
As the t-test requires the variances be equal, Bartletts test for homogeneity of variance was
conducted to determine the equality of variances, whereas Satterthwaites test was done to adjust
the unequal variances. The null hypothesis for the t-test indicated no significant difference of the
extent of heavy metals on the waters collected during the wet and the dry periods, whereas the
alternate hypothesis presented a significant difference on the extent of heavy metals on the
189
Philippines.
waters collected during the wet and the dry periods. The test indicating p<0.05 could be a reason
to conclude that the difference between the periods were significant. Mean concentrations of the
heavy metals in the fishes and macroinvertebrates were determined. Data were analyzed using
the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Heavy metals like total cadmium, total chromium and total lead concentrations were detected in
all the fishes, macroinvertebrates and water samples obtained from the coastal lagoon of Manila
Bay. The presence of the heavy metals in the lagoon maybe attributed to the local point sources
and by the direct deposition of heavy metals from air pollution as the lagoon is situated close to a
highway by the metropolis [3]. Significant differences on the concentrations present in the waters
for the heavy metals total cadmium and total lead at all the sampling points were observed during
wet (September to November 2007) and dry (December to February 2008) months of monitoring
(P < 0.05) as shown in Table 1. Lead and cadmium are heavy metals that largely dominate the
impact of long-range transported air pollutants. The high concentration of total lead and total
cadmium in the coastal lagoon of Manila Bay during the wet periods may be due to the direct
deposition of these metals due to precipitation [3].
Table 1: Mean concentration and t test results of the heavy metals in Manila Bay during the wet
and dry months of 2007-2008
Parameter
(mg L-1)
Total Cd
Total Cr
Total Pb
Normal
Standard
0.005
WET
DRY
0.01
WET
DRY
0.01
WET
DRY
Site 1
Site 2
Site 3
Site 4
Site 5
t-test
Sig.
(2-tailed)
56.924
2.425
47.741
2.516
42.457
2.096
38.262 39.592 -5.415 0.00s

2.097 1.828
0.368
0.274
0.281
0.319
-0.023* -0.040* -0.103* 0.890
0.316
0.096
-0.829 0.41ns
0.743
0.279
0.527
0.283
-3.793 0.00s
0.701
0.336
0.607
0.327
0.561
0.323
DENR-EMB, P<0.05; NS, not significant, S, significant

*Below detection limit of 0.01
A total of 14 fish and macroinvertebrates were obtained from the coastal lagoon of Manila
Bay. At the first month of collection, 7 fish species and 2 macroinvertebrate species were caught.
The fish species were Halfbeaks (Hyporhampus dussumieri), Mullet (Liza sp.), Deep body
sardinella (Sardinella brachysoma), Yellowstripe scad (Selaroides leptolepis), Barracuda
(Sphyraena qenie), Anchovies (Stolephorus comersonii), and Tigerperches (Terapon jarbua). The
2 macroinvertebrates species were the Mollusk Hard clam (Mercenaria sp.) and the Shrimp
(Penaeus sp.). In the succeeding month of collection, 4 fish species and 2 species of
macroinverterbrates were caught. The fish species were Mullet (Liza sp.), Greenback mullet (Liza
subviridis), Otomebora mullet (Mugil melinopterus), and Barred queenfish (Scomberoides tala).
190
Philippines.
The two macroinvertebrates species were the Blue crab (Portunus pelagicus) and the Mud crab
(Scylla serrata). In the third month of collection, 2 fish species were caught. The fish species
were Mullet (Liza sp.) and the Greenback mullet (Liza subviridis). The collection of fish and
macroinvertebrates species ended when the same fishes and macroinvertebrates were caught at
the 3rd month of collection. The most common fishes caught during the entire collection period
were the mullet (Liza sp.) and the Greenback mullet (Liza subviridis). Table 2 shows the listing of
fish and macroinvertebrate species obtained, their local and common names.
Table 2: Fish and macroinvertebrates common, local and scientific names obtained at the coastal
lagoon of Manila Bay, Philippines
Scientific Names
Fishes
Hyporhamphus dussumieri
Liza sp.
Liza subviridis
Mugil melinopterus
Sardinella brachysoma
Scomberoides tala
Selaroides leptolepis
Sphyraena qenie
Stolephorus comersonii
Terapon jarbua
Macroinvertebrates
Mercenaria sp.
Penaeus sp.
Portunus pelagicus
Scylla serrata
Common Names
Local Names
Halfbeaks
Mullet
Greenback mullet
Otomebora mullet
Deep body sardinella
Barred queenfish
Yellowstripe scad
Barracuda
Anchovies
Tigerperches
Hamalit
Banak
Buwan-buwan
Kapak
Daing
Talakitok
Salay-salay
Torsillos
Dilis
Bagaong
Mollusk Hard clam

Shrimp
Blue crab
Mud crab
Halaan
Hipon
Alimasag
Alimango
The different fish species liver and muscles and the macroinvertebrates muscles and gills
were analyzed for the heavy metals total cadmium, total chromium and total lead. Among all the
fishes liver examined (Table 3), the highest mean total chromium, total lead and total cadmium
were found at the Hyporhamphus dussumieri liver at 14.3179 mg/kg, Selaroides leptolepis liver
9.6881 mg/kg, and 2.5458 mg/kg, respectively.
Among the fishes muscle examined (Table 4), the highest mean total chromium, total lead
and total cadmium were found at the Stolephorus comersonii 8.5444 mg/kg, 6.0822 mg/kg,
1.9044 mg/kg, respectively. Among the macroinvertebrates examined, the highest mean total
chromium, total lead and total cadmium were found at the Mercenaria sp. at 9.5452 mg/kg,
7.3833 mg/kg, and 1.7214 mg/kg, respectively. Seven species of fish obtained in the study site
namely Hyporhamphus dussumieri, Liza sp., Scomberoides tala, Selaroides leptolepis,
Sphyraena qenie, Stolephorus commersonii and Terapon jarbua exceeded the Brazilian
regulatory limit of chromium at 0.1 mg/kg and the permissible limit of lead at 0.4 mg/kg [7]. While
191
Philippines.
six fish species namely Hyporhamphus dussumieri, Liza sp., Scomberoides tala, Selaroides
leptolepis, Stolephorus commersonii and Terapon jarbua exceeded the permissible level of
cadmium at 0.1 mg/kg [7].
Table 3: Comparison of mean total heavy metal concentration in the liver of different fish species
collected from Las Pias-Paraaque Lagoon, Manila Bay from September to November
of 2007
Species
Hyporhampus dussumieri
Liza sp.
Liza subviridis
Mugil melinopterus
Scomberoides tala
Sphyraena qenie
Terapon jarbua
Cr (mg kg-1)
14.3179ab
1.7983a
0.0229
0.0287
0.0313
8.8670a
13.7288a
2.6020a
11.2161a
3.8784a
Standard permissible limits [7]

Standard permissible limits
(Brazilian Regulatory limit)
0.1000
Cd(mg kg-1)
1.7571a
0.5613a
0.1614
0.1373
0.1134
1.8838a
2.5458ab
0.7149
2.5032a
0.6188a
Pb(mg kg-1)
6.7357a
1.7829a
0.4333
0.3691
0.2302
6.9296a
9.6881ab
3.3360a
8.8290a
2.3672a
0.1000
0.4000
aMeasured
bHighest
mean total heavy metal concentrations that exceeded the permitted level
mean total concentration for each heavy metal
Table 4: Comparison of mean total heavy metal concentration in the muscle of different fish
species collected from Las Pias-Paraaque Lagoon from September to November of 2007
Species
Hyporhampus dussumieri
Liza sp.
Liza subviridis
Mugil melinopterus
Scomberoides tala
Sphyraena qenie
Terapon jarbua
Cr (mg kg-1)
1.1817a
0.4703a
0.0064
0.0139
0.0174
1.2839
1.5401a
0.4219a
8.5444ab
0.8859a

0.1000
Cd(mg kg-1)
0.1684
0.0603
0.0170
0.0305
0.0672
0.1868
0.3458a
0.0558
1.9044ab
0.0925
Pb(mg kg-1)
1.0192a
0.7000
0.0382
0.0786
0.1842
1.0025a
1.3666a
0.2885
6.0822ab
0.8410a
0.1000
0.4000
aMeasured
bHighest
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Philippines.
The total heavy metal concentrations observed among the macroinvertebrates varied among
species. Among the macroinvertebrates examined (Table 5), only the Mercenaria sp. exceeded
the Brazilian regulatory limit for chromium at 0.1 mg/kg and the permissible limit of lead at 0.4
mg/kg [7]. Both the Mercenaria sp. and the Scylla serrata were above the permissible limit for
cadmium at 0.1 mg/kg [7]. The gills of the crab samples (Table 6), Scylla serrata and Portunus
pelagicus were examined for possible heavy metal accumulation of total cadmium, total
chromium and total lead. The highest total cadmium, and total lead concentrations in the gills of
the crabs examined were those of the Portunus pelagicus while the highest total chromium
concentrations in the gills of Scylla serrata was observed. All the gills observed were way below
the standard permissible limit of 0.1 mg Cr/kg, 0.4 mg Pb/kg, and 0.1 mg Cd/kg.
Table 5: Comparison of mean total heavy metal concentration in the muscle of different
macroinvertebrate species collected from Las Pias-Paraaque Lagoon, Manila Bay
from September to November of 2007
Species
Portunus pelagicus
Mercenaria sp.
Peneaus sp.
Scylla serrata
Cr (mg kg-1)
0.0188
9.5452ab
0.0299
0.0241

0.1000
Cd(mg kg-1)
0.0954
1.7214ab
0.1031
0.2228a
Pb(mg kg-1)
0.1989
7.3833ab
0.3448
0.3780
0.1000
0.4000
aMeasured
bHighest
Table 6: Comparison of total mean heavy metal accumulation in the gills of two macroinvertebrate
species collected from Las Pias-Paraaque Lagoon from September to November of
2007
Species
Cr (mg kg-1)
Portunus pelagicus
0.0192
Scylla serrata
0.0262b
b Highest mean total concentration for each heavy metal
Cd(mg kg-1)
0.1360b
0.1005
Pb(mg kg-1)
0.3266b
0.1606
This was a cross-sectional study and its scope is limited to assessing the heavy metals total
cadmium, total chromium and total lead in the waters, fishes and macroinvertebrates obtained at
the coastal lagoon of Manila Bay during the periods of investigation. This study has likewise
showed that the different tissues of the fish and macroinvertebrates examined have different
capacities of accumulating heavy metals. The lengths were not correlated with their heavy metal
accumulations since a previous study [8] indicated that there is no significant relationship
between the lengths and the heavy metal accumulations.
193
Philippines.
The highest heavy metal concentrations among the tissues were observed in the liver as
compared to the muscle. The heavy metal concentrations in the muscle are important, because
this is the most commonly consumed part in fish species. The magnitude of heavy metal
accumulation is generally low in the muscles because most likely this is where the metabolic
activity is relatively less [9]. A study [10] supports the findings of the study where the muscle
tissues of the fish species are generally lower in trace metal content as compared to the liver
tissue. The accumulation of the heavy metals total cadmium, total chromium and total lead
patterns in the fishes and macroinvertebrates examined may be attributed to the organisms
uptake and elimination rates [11] and in the differences in the physiological role of each organ
[12]. According to a study [12], the heavy metal bioaccumulation in the aquatic organism may be
species-dependent. It is likely that the absorptive differences that occurred between species in
this investigation may be attributed to the differences in the absorptive capabilities among
animals and the animals anatomic considerations [13]. It is also likely that the different
bioaccumulation of heavy metals in the studied species is resistant to them and their organs to
the pollutant [14].
CONCLUSION
Results of the study showed considerable amounts of heavy metals total cadmium, total
chromium and total lead in the water and the different fish and macroinvertebrate species. The
presence of heavy metals in the waters of the coastal lagoon of Manila Bay may be attributed to
the local point sources and the direct deposition of heavy metals from air pollution. The heavy
metals in the water increase the potential for heavy metals to accumulate in the aquatic
organisms as these pollutants enter the fish and macroinvertebrates through several routes. The
liver of the different fish species examined had the highest accumulation of heavy metals as
compared to the muscle tissue in the different fish species examined. The accumulation of heavy
metals in the muscle was relatively low and is below the normal standards for the corresponding
heavy metals concentrations in fishes. The findings of the study showed that there are some
aquatic organisms that are heavily contaminated with heavy metals while there are also those
that showed below normal standard allowable concentrations for the heavy metals studied. The
observed variation in the levels of heavy metals accumulation in the different organs can be
attributed to differences in the physiological role of each organ and the variation in the heavy
metals in the fish and macroinvertebrate species examined and this study shows that the heavy
metal bioaccumulation is species-dependent.
Acknowledgement: We would like to express our sincerest gratitude to all who have assisted and
supported this study.
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Glenn Sia Su, Kristine Joy Martillano, Tessa Paula Alcantara, Elena Ragragio, Josefina De Jesus, Arnold Hallare

ASSESSING HEAVY METALS IN THE WATERS, FISH AND

La Salle University, 2401 Taft Avenue, Manila, Philippines.

Author: Phone/fax: +63-2-536-0228. Email: glss76@yahoo.com.

Fig. 1: The study site and the sampling points

38.262 39.592 -5.415 0.00s

DENR-EMB, P<0.05; NS, not significant, S, significant

Mollusk Hard clam

Standard permissible limits [7]

Standard permissible limits [7]

Standard permissible limits [7]

[This page is intentionally left blank]

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