Shellfish in west coast may contain heavy metals

KUALA LUMPUR: Seafood lovers on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia are warned to reduce their shellfish consumption because of the risk of heavy metal poisoning.

Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) School of Marine and Environmental Sciences marine biology programme senior lecturer, Associate Professor Dr Ong Meng Chuan, said 25 scientists detected a high concentration of heavy metals, like arsenic, cadmium, lead and mercury, around estuaries and harbours in the Straits of Malacca during a voyage from March 13 to 22.

He said findings revealed the waters off Johor, Port Klang and Pulau Pinang were at a higher risk of contamination.

“This situation leads to the contamination of a food source because shellfish stay put and don’t migrate to search for food. If the water is contaminated with heavy metals, it will be passed up the food chain.”

The marine expedition using UMT’s research vessel, RV Discovery, was carried out in conjunction with the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace 2019 exhibition and sailed from Kuala Terengganu to Tanjung Lembung, Langkawi.

The team collected samples from more than 45 stations along the Straits of Malacca and South China Sea.

Ong said many did not realise the long-term consequences of eating contaminated seafood.

“Heavy metal bioaccumulation takes time to be detected. The build up from eating arsenic- or mercury-contaminated food can lead to (health) disorders.”

He said the Straits of Malacca was more polluted than the South China Sea as it was shallow and narrow, as well as experiencing a growth in industrial activities in the port and estuary area.

He said river currents in estuarine waters were weaker, allowing heavy metals to sink and accumulate on the floor of estuaries.

“A heavier penalty is needed because we don’t want another Sungai Kim Kim incident, which affected more than 2,000 people.”