SAINT MICHAEL COLLEGE

Cantilan, Surigao del Sur

SAINT MICAHEL COLLEGE

Introduction

In the Philippines and throughout the globe, industries are essential to

economic progress and play a significant role in raising living standards. Pollution of

the aquatic environment with heavy metals has turn out to be a worldwide problem

because the metals are indestructible and most have toxic effects on organisms.

Okareh (2015) specified that most industrial noxious waste discharged into

the environment contain organic and inorganic pollutants in dissolved, suspended

and insoluble forms. The consumption of fish worldwide has increased rapidly in

recent years mainly with the consciousness of its nutritional and therapeutic benefits.

In addition to being important source of protein, fish are enriched with essential

minerals, vitamins, and unsaturated fatty acids (El-Moselhy, 2000).

Fishes are widely known for their distinctive potential to bioaccumulate heavy

metals in their muscles and organs. Studies have examined the accumulation of

metals in the tissues of fish from aquatic environments due to increased demand for

fish as a protein source. Due to their toxicity and accumulation in the biota,

determination of the levels of heavy metals in fish species has received upsurged

attention globally. According to the literatures, metal bioaccumulation by fish and

subsequent distribution in organs is greatly inter-specific.

In addition, many factors can affect metal uptake like sex, age, size,

reproductive cycle, swimming pattern, feeding behavior, and geographical location

(Zhao et. al., 2012). The present study aims to assess the bioaccumulationstatus of

heavy metals in Clarias batrachus. It is a black, slippery fish with mustache to aid it
 SAINT MICHAEL COLLEGE
Cantilan, Surigao del Sur
SAINT MICAHEL COLLEGE

in swimming. It is called catfish in English, hito in Ilocos, ito in Pampanga, and pantat

in Pangasinan, Cebu and Iloilo. Therefore, this study is necessary considering the

health risk of heavy metals in plants, animals, and people within the environment.