Abstract

Jocelyn A. Pajiji*, Elvinia R. Alivio, Kingpu O. Ajik and Efren Tangon

ABSTRACT

Environmental pollution of heavy metals is increasingly becoming a problem and nowadays become a great concern due to its adverse effects. Thus, it is essential to determine the heavy metal concentrations when considering seagrasses as resource of food stuffs and medicinal purposes. The heavy metal concentrations of the seagrasses in this study were determined using a Perkin Elmer AAnalyst 200 atomic absorption spectrophotometer with acetylene as gas fuel. The results of heavy metal concentrations of the seagrass Thalassia hemprichii were Zn > Cr > Pb > Cd (mg/kg), while Enhalus acoroides were Cr > Zn > Pb > Cd (mg/kg). The results revealed that the heavy metal concentrations of the seagrasses were all classified as non-polluted except for the chromium concentrations of the seagrass Enhalus acoroides, which was slightly polluted. The results could be utilized also in policy decisions to strengthen the Butuan Bay integrated coastal resource management in addressing other environmental issues considering seagrasses, an important food stuffs’ resource in the area.