Abstract

Arsenic is a natural component of the earth’s crust and is widely distributed throughout the
environment in the air, water and land. Fish and shellfish can be a dietary source of arsenic due
exposure of these marine organisms to agricultural, industrial and domestic effluents containing
arsenic. Barangay Maningcol is one of the fishing grounds in Ozamiz City and at present there
has been no study conducted on the level of arsenic in its marine waters. Thus, this study will be
conducted to assess whether the coastal waters of Barangay Maningcol is contaminated with
arsenic. This study aims to determine the level of arsenic in the coastal waters of Barangay
Maningcol, Ozamiz City. The findings of the study will provide baseline information on the
arsenic concentration in the area that may aid in the promulgation of laws for regulation in the
preservation of the marine waters. The study will follow the descriptive research design, water
samples will be collected and analysed using the standard methods.
Keywords: assessment, effluents, pollution, preservation,
 Introduction
Arsenic is an environmental toxicant with wide distribution in rock, soil, water and air.
Arsenic compound is classified into two viz. inorganic arsenic and organic arsenic. Inorganic
arsenic is generally abundant in groundwater used for drinking in several countries all over the
world (e.g. Bangladesh, Chile and China), whereas organic arsenic compounds (such as
arsenobetaine) are primarily found in fish, which thus may give rise to human exposure
(Geneva,2003). It is a great environmental contaminant in the Bengal delta basin and is
responsible for causing carcinogenicity to millions of people and animals (Mazumder,2008)
People are exposed to elevated levels of inorganic arsenic through drinking contaminated
water, using contaminated water in food preparation and irrigation of food crops, industrial
processes, eating contaminated food and smoking tobacco. Inorganic arsenic is naturally present
at high levels in the groundwater. Drinking-water, crops irrigated with contaminated water and
food prepared with contaminated water are the sources of exposure. In seafood, arsenic is mainly
found in its less toxic organic form. Arsenic is also used in the hide tanning process and, to a
limited extent, in pesticides, feed additives and pharmaceuticals. Inorganic arsenic compounds
(such as those found in water) are highly toxic while organic arsenic compounds (such as those
found in seafood) are less harmful to health. (https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-
sheets/detail/arsenic)
The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified arsenic and
arsenic compounds as carcinogenic to humans, and has also stated that arsenic in groundwater is
carcinogenic to humans. Long-term exposure to arsenic may also cause cancers of the bladder
and lungs. Other adverse health effects that may be associated with long-term ingestion of
inorganic arsenic include developmental effects, diabetes, pulmonary disease, and cardiovascular
disease. (Quansah, 2015).
Ozamiz City is emerging as one of the fastest growing cities in Northwestern Mindanao
and its strategic location as “Gateway to Western Mindanao”. Fishermen along the 14 coastal
barangays of Ozamiz is considered sustenance fishing. For its fishing operation, there is
predominance of non-motorized fishing boats over the motorized boats. In the coastal part of
Barangay Maningcol, Ozamiz City, fisheries is one of their sources of income. Barangay
Maningcol is one of the richest fishing grounds in Ozamiz City
(http://ozamizcity.gov.ph/economy/). Currently, there has been no study conducted on the level
of arsenic in the coastal waters in the area. Thus, this study will be conducted to assess whether
the coastal waters of Barangay Maningcol is contaminated with arsenic.
This study aims to determine the level of heavy metal arsenic concentration in the coastal
areas of Barangay Maningcol, Ozamiz City. The findings of the study will provide baseline
information on the arsenic concentration in the area that may aid in the promulgation of laws for
regulation in the preservation of the marine waters.
 Material and Methods

Research design
The study will follow the descriptive research design. Water samples will be collected
and will be analysed using the standard methods.

Research Setting
This research was conducted in the coastal area of Barangay Maningcol, Ozamiz City (Figure 1).
Three sampling sites will be established in the area. Sampling site 1 (yellow dot) is situated at
8°10’01’’N 123°52’02’’E near the river outlet between Barangay Maningcol and Barangay Doña
consuelo.Sampling site 2 (green dot) is situated at 8°09’25’’N 123°52’01’’E and it is 218.32
meters from the coastline of barangay maningcol. Sampling site 3 (red dot) is situated in
8°09’41’N 123° 51’34’’E and it is near in some residential houses and many mangroves. It is
also near the river outlet.

Figure1. Map of Ozamiz City showing the location of Brgy. Maningcol

Legend: Sampling site 3- Samplng site 2- Sampling site 1

Sample collection and analysis

 Water sample was collected at 0.5m depth from the surface of the seawater using a one
meter dipper and nine (1L) polyethylene bottles (3L in each sampling site). The bottles were
capped immedietly and kept in a cold box. The samples were sent to First Analytical Services
and Technical cooperative (FAST) laboratories in Cagayan de Oro City for the analysis.
Results and Discussion
Table 1 shows the arsenic concentration in the three sampling sites in the coastal area of
barangay maningcol, Ozamiz City. Sampling site 1,2 and 3 have the same results based on FAST
LABORATORY using the Silver Diethyldithiocarbamate Colorimetric Method (Modified).
Neverthless, the findings revealed that the arsenic concentration in the three sampling site were
within allowable standard. The result was less than 0.01d which does not exceed the allowable
limit of Arsenic (0.02 mg/L) in coastal water based on the Department of Environment and
Natural Resources (DENR) water quality guidelines and general effluent standard of 2016
(DAO). Thus, the result revealed that the coastal water of barangay maningcol passed the
allowable standard limit for toxic and deletaious substances for coastal and marine waters.

Table 1. Arsenic concentration in three sampling sites in the coastal area of

Barangay Maningcol, Ozamiz City.

DENR allowable limit for Zinc in seawater- 0.2mg/L

The result of this study is not similar in the ground Water of bangladesh where 85 million
people at risk from arsenic (As) in drinking water and in food crops. In Bangladesh, the
groundwater As contamination problem is the worst in the world. Ninety-seven percent of the
population in the country uses groundwater for drinking and domestic purposes as surfacewater
is mismanaged. High levels of As in groundwater are causing widespread poisoning in
Bangladesh. Different studies have addressed various aspects of the As issue in Bangladesh. This
review is undertaken to give an overview of the latest findings and statistical data on the issue
especially on soil, water and food cycle. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends a
safe limit for As in drinking water of 10 μg L−1. A recent survey looked at the As concentrations
of drinking water from deep wells in 64 districts in the country and found that 59 had
concentrations >10 μg L−1 and 43 had concentrations >50 μg L−1. Contaminated groundwater is
also used for irrigation of paddy rice, which is the main staple food for the population. This
practice enhances the level of As in the soils rendering them unsuitable for agriculture. A few
recent studies have reported that 85–95% of total As in rice and a vegetable was inorganic,
which outlines the need for more studies for standardization. Arsenic concentration is higher in
Bangladeshi soils, groundwater and plants (data based on 4% area of the country) than the
permissible limits or normal range reported. This situation poses a serious threat on human and
livestock health and highlights the need for scientific studies that would better describes the fate
of As in the natural environment and identify all potential routes of exposure (Hossain, 2006).
 Conclusion and Recommendation
The coastal area of Barangay Maningcol, Ozamiz City passes the allowable standard
limit set by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) quality criteria of
seawater and it is safe and still can be used for marine aquatic production such as improving and
protecting the marine ecosystem such as fishies, coral reefs, plankton and other marine resources.
All the people living in the coastal area or nearby Barangay must continue protecting the ocean
by implementing the rules and regulation that would continue to preserve its nature. Constant
monitoring of Arsenic in the area is necessary
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