PUTRAJAYA: Following extensive tests, the fish in several rivers in Kuantan have been given a clean bill of health by the Fisheries Department.
Following controversy over bauxite mining in the area and worries over its impact on the environment in 2015, the Fisheries Research Institute (FRI) Batu Maung began monitoring Kuantan rivers and conducted research on the aquatic eco-system, in particular, fish stocks.
"A test was conducted in February 2016 by collecting 64 samples of 25 species of fish from Sungai Balok, Sungai Penggorak, Sungai Riau, Sungai Mabuk, Sungai Padan, Empangan Kobalt, Kuala Penur and Tanjong Lumpur.
"We tested the samples for, among others, aluminium, iron, manganese, magnesium, zinc, cadmium, chromium, lead, mercury, copper, arsenic and selenium.
"The test results showed that metal contamination in the fish samples are low, below the maximum permissible level as stipulated under the Food Act 1985," the department said in a statement today.
The department revealed, for instance, that a test for arsenic on fish samples taken from Sungai Riau showed a presence so low that it could not be detected, when compared against the maximum level of 1,000 nanogrammes (ng) as listed under the Food Regulations 1985. Samples from Sungai Padan only recorded 1.92ng; Sungai Mabuk (too low to be detected), Sungai Penggorak (3.51ng); and Sungai Balok (5.28ng).
"Aside from checking fish samples, water and sediment samples were also taken from the rivers to check on the level of metal content," said the statement.
The department said sediment samples taken from Sungai Balok and rivers near Bukit Goh showed no signs of metal enrichment or changes in the biodiversity of the fish population.