A preliminary effort to assign sponge (<i>Callispongia sp</i>) as trace metal biomonitor for Pb, Cd, Zn, and Cr, an environmental perspective in Hative gulf waters Ambon

doi:10.4236/abc.2013.36062

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Advances in Biological Chemistry, 2013, 3, 549-552 ABC

http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/abc.2013.36062 Published Online December 2013 (http://www.scirp.org/journal/abc/)

A preliminary effort to assign sponge (Callispongia sp) as

trace metal biomonitor for Pb, Cd, Zn, and Cr, an

environmental perspective in Hative gulf waters Ambon

Netty Siahaya1*, Alfian Noor2, Nunuk Sukamto2, Nicole de Voogd3

1Department of Chemistry, Pattimura University Kampus Poka-Unpatti, Ambon, Indonesia

2Department of Chemistry, Hasanuddin University Kampus UNHAS Tamalanrea, Makassar, Indonesia

3Netherlands Center for Biodiversity Naturalis, Leiden, The Netherlands

Email: *[email protected]

Received 4 November 2013; revised 5 December 2013; accepted 16 December 2013

which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

ABSTRACT

The aim of this investigation is to estimate metal con-

centration distribution, Pb, Cd, Zn, and Cr, in Cal-

lispongia sp, sediment, and water column in Hative

waters of Ambon bay. After sampling, analytical pro-

cesses were conducted by using a standard method

and measured by ICP-OES (Inductively Coupled Plas-

ma Optical Emission Spectroscopy). The results show-

ed that Zn concentration was highest, 0.231 mg/kg

dry weight (ppm) while in sediment and water the

numbers were 1.180 and 0.790 ppm respectively. In

the meantime, functional group studies through Fou-

rier Transformed Infra Red spectroscopy revealed

that OH-group (3421 cm−1), Conjugated Double Bond

(1635 cm−1) and Ether Groups (1049 cm−1) of callis-

pongia sp were found. Also, the appearance of wave-

number 2926 cm−1 clearly indicates the existence of

–CH sp3 group. Combining both results may guide us

to establish a relation between metal concentration and

organic substance transformation made during inter-

action inside species. Thus, trace metal investigation

can be a choice in doing rapid assessment and bio-

monitor for the quality of coastal marine life. Fur-

thermore, by more extensive studies, this connection

could be developed and proposed as a low cost meth-

od for EIA of metal pollution in coastal zone, particu-

larly in coral reef system.

Keywords: Callyspongia sp; ICP-OES; FTIR; Metal

Distribution

1. INTRODUCTION

The capital of Maluku province is surrounded by Ambon

waters in the area about 187 thousand square kilometers,

17% slope, and relatively rugged land area. Its land use

will have an impact on the ecological pressures to Ambon

Bay waters [1]. Ambon Bay waters have multiple functions,

namely as a regional fisheries and aquaculture, police

seaport and Navy bases, PELNI ship port, and out of the

traditional boats Ambon and ferry crossing pier, fishing

port, Pertamina, ship repair dock space, recreation areas

and sports, and electric power by PLN, so that the waters

of Ambon Bay are very susceptible to environmental changes

because each activity will produce many metal wastes.

Island of Ambon is encircled by fringing type coral reefs

which grow lengthwise along the shoreline on the north

and south bay [2].

It is generally recognized that sponges are the animals

that always associated with coral reefs. Sponges, in

feeding, rely mostly on a constant flow of waters bringing

its dissolved organic matters as well as particulate non

organics such as metal associated compounds. The

sponges also have long been a center of attention from

scientists in different countries to look at the possibility

using them as metal bioindicator due to its capacity to

accumulate metals [3-6] without sacrificing its growth

and survival rate. Copper, lead, and vanadium have been

studied and showed a sponge capacity in absorbing them

in high concentration [4]. Also, Petrossian tertudinaria

species have been used as a biomarker for the detection of

heavy metals in inshore areas (0.5 - 1 km) and offshore (5

- 7 km) in the Gulf of Mannar, India. In fact, sponge heavy

metal concentration of inshore was about 64 times higher

than the offshore [3].

The ability to accumulate heavy metals in the sponge

is very important to be known as one of the guidelines in

determining the status of water pollution in an area that

has a coral reef ecosystem, in which the region is the

*Corresponding author.

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N. Siahaya et al. / Advances in Biological Chemistry 3 (2013) 549-552

550

habitat of a living sponge. This is in line with the

opinions [3,4,9] that the metal content in aquatic biota

generally increases over time because the metal is ex-

pected, so the presence of a sponge in water Hative cycle

can be used to determine the heavy metals Pb, Cd , Cr,

and Zn in the sponge type callispongia sp, sediments and

water in the waters Hative Ambon bay.

2. MATERIALS AND METHODS

Research materials are: sponges from Hative waters in

Ambon bay; Acetone (Merck), HNO3 (p.A), double dis-

tilled water and Whatman filter paper. Sponge samples

were collected by diving, cleaned and then placed in a

plastic bag and put in the ice box. 0.5 grams of sample

was put in beaker glass, add 5 mL HNO3 and then heated

at 150˚C for 2 hours. After being cooled at room tem-

perature, sample put in 25 mL volumetric flask, match

the volume with double distilled water and filtered with

Whatman paper and solution is ready to be analyzed by

ICP-OES Perkin Elmer 3000. One litre of water sample

was taken at the bottom, and immediately filtered with

filter paper of cellulose nitrate (0.45 μ) after previously

washed with 1N HNO3 and then preserved in HNO3 5%.

250 ml water sample is inserted in a Teflon separating

funnel, then extracted with APDC- NaDDC/MIBK. The

organic phase was extracted again with 5% HNO3 solu-

tion, filtered back, and ready for analysis by ICP-OES

Perkin Elmer 3000.

For sediments, they were taken from the bottom with a

Van Veen Grab sampler, stored in polyethylene bottles

and taken in laboratory put in a Teflon beaker and dried

in an oven at a temperature of 105˚C and after drying,

rinsed 3 times with double distilled water then dried

again. A total of 5 g sample was destructed in Teflon

beaker with solution of HNO3/HCl (1:3) at 100˚C for 8

hours. After that, the solution was filtered, and the fil-

trate is ready to be analyzed by ICP-OES Perkin 3000.

3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

3.1. General Situation of Sampling Locations

Sampling was conducted on July 4, 2011, about noon

under cloudy weather in Hative waters (Figure 1) sur-

rounded by population settlement, estuaries, navy com-

plex, harbour, oil depot of Pertamina, and sago plantation.

Callispongia sp, ca 50 grams were taken under physico-

chemical as shown in Table 1. The data clearly shows

that its water quality fits with environmental conditions

in general where sponges grow in tropical and sub-

tropical conditions with vertical distribution on coral

reefs at low tide up into the area of approximately 50

meters [6]. Also, water content, ash, and biomass of Cal-

lispongia sp, represent an integral part of metal content

in a biological sample [9].

Accumulation of Pb, Cd, Cr and Zn Callispongia sp

can be seen in Table 2 as a function of organ as skeleton

and tissue. Also determined were water and sediment

around sponge. Logically before entering into cellular

level of sponge, metals will be firstly existed in water

and sediment It seems obvious that each element shows a

different partitional pattern where cadmium as the least

amount remain largely in sediment (86.4 %). Oppositely,

chromium was almost all adsorbed by cellular sponge. It

was also clear that majority of elements have stayed in

cellular level.

As for zinc as an essential element, its highest con-

centration revealed that the source might not only come

from industrial by products but also from excretion of

living system in marine environment. So the total zinc in

this Callispongia sp apparently not an abnormal case

especially if one looks at a fraction remaining in sedi-

ment (54.1%) and consumption level of skeleton and

tissue on zinc. Generally the highest metal concentration

in sediments is influenced by several processes like

sedimentation, flocculation, precipitation, and adsorption

[5,6]. Another important parameter is bioconcentration

factor (BCF) in measuring the capability of organisms to

accumulate metals from environment into its tissue. Ac-

cording to Abdullah et al. 2007, BCF can be estimated

by comparing metal absorption between in sponge tissue

and in water (BCF sw) or sediment (BCF ss).

The ability of organisms to accumulate metals from

the environment into the tissues of the body can be cal-

culated using the bioconcentration factor (BCF). BCF

value can be obtained by comparing the ability of organ-

isms (e.g. sponges) to absorbsi metals from water and

sediment. Therefore there are two BCF values, BCF

sponge-sediment (BCFs-s) and BCF-water sponge (BCFs-

w). BCFs-s is the value of the ratio between the concen-

tration of the metal absorbed into the sponge tissue with

metal concentrations in the sediment, while the BCF sw

is the value of the ratio between the concentration of

metal that accumulates into the sponge tissue metal con-

centrations in water [8] as found in table-3 below.

From the result in Table 3 one can find the highest

value for BCF is Cr either in water or in sediment. and

this indicated that for the case of the location and sponge,

Cr is the most appropriate element to be assigned as a

bioindicator or biomonitor for Callispongia sp compared

to other metals. Some results from several investigations

have used the same method [4,5,7].

To assess the possible chemical bonding occurs be-

tween organic molecules in sponge and metal, an FTIR

analysis was carried out to look at the key functional

groups that may link to bond formation with metals.

FTIR spectrum of Callispongia sp sample can be seen in

Figure 2.

According to Terada et al. (1983) the interactions that

N. Siahaya et al. / Advances in Biological Chemistry 3 (2013) 549-552

551

Figure 1. Sampling location is in the waters of Hative Besar municipal.

Figure 2. Fourier Transformed Infra Red (FTIR) spectrum of Callispongia sp tissue sample.

Table 1. Physicochemical conditions in Hative and sponge

Callispongia sp.

Table 3. BCF s-s and BCF sw of Pb, Cd, Zn, & Cr calculated

from Callispongia sp.

Site Waters conditions Content (%)

Temperature

(˚C) pH Salinity

(0/00) Water Ash Biomass

Hative

28 6.8 30 78.74 87.00 16.90

Metal BCF ss BCF sw

Pb 0.32 0.41

Cd 0.52 10.0

Zn 0.09 0.13

Cr 262.0 262.0

Table 2. Metal content (ppm) in the sponge Callispongia sp.

Metal Total

Skeleton + Tissue Skeleton Tissue WatersSediment

Pb 0.039 0.008 0.031 0.0750.098

Cd 0.012 0.002 0.01 0.0010.019

Zn 0.213 0.109 0.104 0.7901.180

Cr 0.280 0.018 0.262 0.0010.001

have occured between active functional groups of orga-

nic molecules can be described as the behaviour of Lewis

acid-base interaction to form a complex chemical struc-

ture. In case of metal adsorption in a solution system,

these reactions may be generalized as follow :





GH MZGM1HZ



 





(1)

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N. Siahaya et al. / Advances in Biological Chemistry 3 (2013) 549-552

552







2GH MZGM22HZ



 



(2)

3.2. Where GH Is a Functional Group and M Is

a Divalent Metal Ion Z

The FTIR results showed that functional groups found in

Callispongia sp are OH (3421 cm−1), the group of

conjugated double bonds (1635 cm−1), and ether groups

(1049 cm−1). While the wave number 2926 cm−1 region

of the spectrum shows the possibilities that come from

sp3 CH orbital. These are functional groups that have

possibility to bind metals thus potential active groups to

catch metals.

4. CONCLUSION

It can be concluded that Callispongia sp may be assigned

as a pollutant indicator for metal especially element chro-

mium which is very toxic in certain forms and valences.

A further investigation will be needed to explore sponge

potential as the metal pollution bioindicator in approp-

riate locations particularly in eastern island littoral re-

gions where coral reef is found predominantly.

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