Philippine E-Journals

Methods of Culture and Cd Levels in Perna viridis from Bacoor Bay

Jaime Raul O. Janairo | Cherry S. Santos

Discipline: Biochemistry

 

Abstract:

Many studies and monitoring programs have employed the filter-feeding bivalve mussel as a bio-indicator organism to assess possible contamination in coastal waters because of its high accumulation for a wide range of chemicals. In this study, an atomic absorption method for the analysis of cadmium (Cd) was validated and applied to Bacoor Bay cultured green mussels Perna viridis. Market-size samples collected from five different sites from the Coastal Road area in Bacoor to Cavite City gave Cd values ranging from a low of 0.14 ± 5.8 × 10–3 to 0.28 ± 2.1 × 10–3 ppm. These values are below the World Health Organization limits. When compared in terms of methods of culture, mussels grown by the sabit and kapit methods yielded higher amounts of Cd than those grown by the bottom or sabog method. It would appear that Cd remains suspended in the water column and is thus accumulated more by mussels growing above the bottom of the bay rather than those scattered on the seabed.