ANALYSIS OF HEAVY METAL MERCURY (Hg) IN FISH IN THE CENTRAL KATINGAN RIVER USING AN ATOMIC ABSORPTION SPECTROPHOTOMETER (AAS)

Abstract

Central Katingan River is located in Central Kalimantan Province of Katingan Regency. The location of the river estuary is located in Katingan Kuala, where there are many illegal and legal gold mining that allows mercury heavy metal pollution (Hg) to exceed the normal limit on the body of fish which is an indicator of the occurrence of pollution in the water environment. Then the data is analyzed using qualitative and quantitative methods with the Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS) instrument. This study aims to determine the presence or absence of heavy metal mercury (Hg) contained in fish in the Central Katingan River. This study also used analytical and cross sectional observation research methods using KI, HCl, and NaOH reagents and using of master solution ranging from 1000 ppm, 100 ppm, 10 ppm and using serial solutions of concentrations ranging from 2 ppm, 4 ppm, 6 ppm and 10 ppm. Based on the results of qualitative analysis, positive results were obtained, indicated by testing using KI and NaOH reagents, while the HCl reagent did not form a precipitate which showed negative results. Based on the results obtained in tilapia gill samples (A), mercury (Hg) levels of heavy metal were 0.140 mg/kg (A1), 0.129 mg/kg (A2), 0.022 mg/kg (A3), and carp gill samples (B). ) levels of heavy metal mercury (Hg) were 0.138 mg/kg (B1), 0.132 mg/kg (B2), 0.046 mg/kg (B3). According to the Regulation of the Head of BPOM RI. Based on statistical analysis carried out using the SPSS application, it can be concluded that there is no significant difference in the levels of heavy metal mercury (Hg) in the two types of fish in the Central Katingan River, because the significance value <0.05.