Bioaccumulation of Heavy Metals by Acanthus ilicifolius in Polluted Mangrove Ecosystems

Etti Sartina Siregar; Erni Jumilawaty; Masitta Tanjung; Ade Syafitri; Cecep Kusmana; Mohammad Basyuni; Adrian Hartanto; Rinny Rahmania

doi:10.28991/ESJ-2025-09-02-03

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Etti Sartina Siregar
etti1@usu.ac.id
1) Department of Biology, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Sumatera Utara, Medan, North Sumatra 20155, Indonesia. 2) Center of Excellence for Mangrove, Universitas Sumatera Utara, Medan 20155, Indonesia. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9901-903X
Erni Jumilawaty 1) Department of Biology, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Sumatera Utara, Medan, North Sumatra 20155, Indonesia. 2) Center of Excellence for Mangrove, Universitas Sumatera Utara, Medan 20155, Indonesia.
Masitta Tanjung 1) Department of Biology, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Sumatera Utara, Medan, North Sumatra 20155, Indonesia. 2) Center of Excellence for Mangrove, Universitas Sumatera Utara, Medan 20155, Indonesia.
Ade Syafitri Department of Biology, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Sumatera Utara, Medan, North Sumatra 20155,, Indonesia
Cecep Kusmana Department of Silviculture, Faculty of Forestry and Environment, IPB University, Bogor 16680,, Indonesia
Mohammad Basyuni 2) Center of Excellence for Mangrove, Universitas Sumatera Utara, Medan 20155, Indonesia. 4) Department of Forestry, Faculty of Forestry, Universitas Sumatera Utara, Medan 20155, Indonesia.
Adrian Hartanto Department of Biology, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Sumatera Utara, Medan, North Sumatra 20155,, Indonesia
Rinny Rahmania Research Center for Ecology and Ethnobiology, National Research and Innovation Agency, Cibinong 16911,, Indonesia

Vol. 9 No. 2 (2025): April

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Mangrove forests in Sicanang Belawan, North Sumatra, covering 1,510 hectares, are essential for coastal ecosystem services, such as silvofishery and polyculture ponds. Despite their potential, heavy metal pollution has emerged due to anthropogenic activities upstream. Therefore, this study aims to determine the bioaccumulation and translocation capacities of Acanthus ilicifolius for copper (Cu), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn). Samples were collected from 4 sites, representing varying pollution levels, namely Station 1 (mangrove ecotourism area), Station 2 (control site), Station 3 (industrial area with power plant activities), and Station 4 (industrial site near manufacturing facilities). Atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) was then used to measure metal concentrations in sediments and plant tissues (roots, stems, and leaves). The results showed that there were significant site-specific differences in Cu and Pb levels, while Zn concentrations had no significant variation. A. ilicifolius exhibited the highest bioconcentration factor for Cu at Station 1 (2.43±0.76 ppm), while extreme translocation of Pb to leaves was observed at the same location (9.21 ppm). Despite moderate Pb toxicity at Station 1, overall sediment contamination was considered low. This is the first study reporting heavy metal contamination in Sicanang mangrove, identifying A. ilicifoliusas an effective phytoremediator for Cu, Pb, and Zn, aiding pollution mitigation in mangrove ecosystems.

Doi: 10.28991/ESJ-2025-09-02-03

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Siregar, E. S., Jumilawaty, E., Tanjung, M., Syafitri, A., Kusmana, C., Basyuni, M., … Rahmania, R. (2025). Bioaccumulation of Heavy Metals by Acanthus ilicifolius in Polluted Mangrove Ecosystems. Emerging Science Journal, 9(2), 557–568. https://doi.org/10.28991/ESJ-2025-09-02-03

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Bioaccumulation of Heavy Metals by Acanthus ilicifolius in Polluted Mangrove Ecosystems

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Bioaccumulation of Heavy Metals by Acanthus ilicifolius in Polluted Mangrove Ecosystems

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Impediments of Green Finance Adoption System: Linking Economy and Environment

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