Assessment of Metal Pollution Status Through the Fractionation and Bioavailability of Lead Metal (Pb), Chromium (Cr), and Mercury (Hg) in Sediments in the Islands Water Areas of North Maluku Province, Indonesia

     This study was conducted in the waters of North Maluku with various anthropogenic activities that can be sources of metals, namely the Domestic Port in Bastiong, the power plant area on Tidore Island, the Oil Port in Jambula and the Gold Mine in Kao Bay. This study aimed to assess the status of metal pollution through the fractionation of Pb, Cr and Hg metals in sediments related to the bioavailability of Pb, Cr and Hg metals in Anadara granosa. Sediment metal fractionation was determined by the Bureau Commune de Reference Sequential Extraction method and metal bioavailability using Anadara granosa shells. The results of measuring the total concentration of Pb, Cr and Hg metals in North Maluku waters sediments ranged from 7.98 - 15.11mg/ kg; 0.013-0.317mg/ kg and 0.003-0.0192mg/ kg with Pb, Cr and Hg metal content in Anadara granosa of 5.52-10.68mg/ kg; 0.204-0.292mg/ kg and 0.0002-0.0003mg/ kg. Available fractions (F1, F2 and F3) were found in Pb and Cu metal types at domestic ports, power plant ports and oil ports. The residual fraction (F4) of Pb, Cr and Hg dominated at all locations, mostly found in sediments around gold mining. The bioavailability of metals was found to be low, indicating that the source of Pb, Cr, and Hg metal pollution in the water sediments of North Maluku Province predominantly comes from natural sources, such as rocks, which have very low availability for biota.