| dc.description.abstract | Heavy metal pollution in aquatic environments is an increasingly urgent environmental issue, especially in coastal areas such as Tanjung Balai, North Sumatra. Heavy metals such as Lead (Pb), Copper (Cu), and Zinc (Zn) are contaminants originating from various sources, including industrial waste, agricultural activities, and other human activities. Kepah clams (Meretrix sp.), as a food source, are at risk of contamination by these metals, which can negatively impact human health and ecosystems. Heavy metals are among the most common pollutants found in aquatic biota, accumulating even at low concentrations and affecting their physiological functions. Kepah clams are pollution indicators in aquatic environments due to their sedentary lifestyle and feeding method, which involves filtering dissolved food particles from the water. This characteristic increases their potential to accumulate pollutants, particularly heavy metals. Oxygen intake through water passing over the gills can also lead to the bioaccumulation of heavy metals within their bodies if the water is contaminated. This study employed a descriptive method with data collection through observation, and the results were compared with the maximum permissible levels of heavy metals as outlined in the Indonesian National Standard (SNI) No. 7387 of 2009. Samples were collected from the waters of Tanjung Balai and tested for heavy metal content at the Chemistry Laboratory of Fisheries. The analysis showed variations in heavy metal content based on size and type of metal. For Pb, the average concentration was 0.035 mg/kg (small size), 0.040 mg/kg (medium), and 0.036 mg/kg (large). For Cu, the averages were 0.79 mg/kg (small), 1.06 mg/kg (medium), and 1.33 mg/kg (large). For Zn, the averages were 9.90 mg/kg (small), 11.5 mg/kg (medium), and 11.63 mg/kg (large). Keywords: Clams, Heavy Metals, Food Safety, Consumption Limit, Atomic Absorption Spectrophometer | en_US |
