Cadmium, copper and zinc concentrations in water, leaves and roots of Cymodocea serrulata (R. Brown) Ascherson and Magnus and Enhalus acoroides (L.f.) royle and sediments exposed to marcopper mine tailings in Calancan Bay, Marinduque

• Main Authors: Carmen, Lellivi S., Chua, Candice Fay L., Hernandez, Jo Anne P., Lake, Kari Anne, Ponce, Sarah Joan M.
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 1999
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_bachelors/11869
• Institution: De La Salle University

Calancan Bay, Marinduque was the authorized site for the waste disposal of the mine tailings of Marcopper Mining Corporation (MMC). Water, leaves and roots of Cymodocea serrulata and Enhalus acoroides, and sediment samples were collected from selected near and far sites from the actual site of disposal. Temperature, pH and salinity of water were also collected. The samples taken on June, August and November 1998 were analyzed for cadmium, copper and zinc concentrations using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry (AAS). Total and dissolved zinc concentrations of water had the highest concentration (0.844 to 0.3358 mg L) compared with copper and cadmium. Total and dissolved copper concentrations in the near sites decreased as the pH and salinity increased. Total zinc concentration increased as the pH and salinity increased in the near sites. Copper and zinc concentrations, both total and dissolved, were below the standards set by Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), while total and dissolved cadmium concentrations were above the standard. The cadmium, copper and zinc concentrations in water were higher compared with the metal concentrations obtained by UP-NSRI last February 1987. The copper and zinc concentrations of the leaves and roots of Cymodocea serrulata and Enhalus acoroides, as well as the sediments from the near sites had significant differences compared with the concentrations of the three metals at the far sites. Cadmium concentrations of the leaves and roots of C. serrulata and E. acoroides and sediments from the near sites did not have significant differences with that of the sites. Cadmium, copper and zinc concentrations of the seagrasses and sediments varied with time, however no trend pattern was observed.