Contamination of microplastics and heavy metals in the antique ark Anadara antiquata (Linnaeus, 1758) from the East Java coast of Indonesia: bioaccumulation and potential health risk assessment

In this study, the contamination of microplastics (MP) and heavy metals in the antique ark, Anadara antiquata, residing in the intertidal zones of the East Java coast, was assessed, including potential implications for human health. The findings indicated that the concentration of MP in the tissue of A. antiquata at the Lumajang station was the lowest, while the MP levels in the tissue at the Gresik, Sidoarjo, and Probolinggo stations were comparable. The MP found in the tissues of the antique ark were primarily composed of black fragments <100 μm. In contrast, the black MP fibers found were mainly in 100 - <5000 μm. Six types of polymers were identified in antique ark tissues: polyurethane, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyamide, polystyrene, and polyvinyl chloride. All four study locations demonstrated hazard levels categorized as III (high). Heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Hg, Cr, Cu, and Zn) found in antique ark tissues are below the permissible upper limits set by international organizations. Cr levels in antique ark tissues surpassed the provisional tolerable weekly intake, while other heavy metals remain within acceptable limits. The target hazard quotient and hazard index values for Pb, Cd, Hg, Cr, Cu, and Zn in the tissues of the antique arks were < 1. This suggests that neither individual heavy metals nor their combined presence present a significant non-carcinogenic health risk to humans. The target cancer risk value for lead (Pb) is within acceptable limits; however, the TCR for Cr exceeds 0.001, indicating a potentially unacceptable carcinogenic risk.