Abstract

Adrian Gabriel D. Acosta¹, Camille Noelle M. Camara¹, Juan Rocco Martin J. Ongsiako¹, Joachim N. Tsoi¹, Mary Jane C. Flores¹, Jose Isagani B. Janairo¹, Jose Santos R. Carandang Vi¹, Rodante G. Flores^2,3, Divina M. Amalin¹, Nancy S. Abes^1,4 and Derick Erl P. Sumalapao^1,5,6,

DOI : http://dx.doi.org/10.13005/ojc/330412

Exposure of living organisms to heavy metals can lead to bioaccumulation and can have some detrimental health effects. This study identified the species of liver flukes present in the liver tissues of water buffaloes, determined the concentration and bioconcentration factor of cadmium, copper, lead, and zinc present in both the liver tissues and liver flukes using atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Of the 1,329 liver flukes extracted from the 14 livers, Fasciolagigantica(F. gigantica) was the only species present in the collected liver tissues. The median heavy metal concentrations (µg/g) in the liver tissues were 0.93, 9.13, 4.75, and 48.95 for cadmium, copper, lead, and zinc, respectively. F. giganticahad median heavy metal concentrations (µg/g) of 3.32, 72.26, 20.82, and 159.37 for cadmium, copper, lead, and zinc, respectively. Both the liver tissues and F. giganticawere identified to contain varying concentrations of these heavy metals (p<0.05). The presence of these heavy metals in both the liver tissues and F. gigantica suggests heavy metal contamination of the areas where the carabaos graze. The bioconcentration factors for cadmium, copper, lead, and zinc were greater than 1.0 indicating that liver flukes are good bioaccumulators and bioindicators of environmental pollution.

Fasciolagigantica; Atomic absorption spectrophotometry; Heavy metals; Bioaccumulation; Bioindicator; Bioconcentration factor

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