Abstract
Laguna de Bay is the largest multipurpose lake in the Philippines. Of the primary uses, fish cultivation and potable water production depend mainly on its water quality. Over the years, this tropical lake has been inundated with pollution from agricultural, industrial and domestic wastewaters. While new contaminants have emerged, traditional contaminants including heavy metals continue to threaten the lake’s resources. In this study, the levels and distribution of heavy metals in Laguna de Bay were investigated. Surface water samples from nine sampling sites were analyzed for As, Pb, Cd, Cr, Cu, Co, Ni, and Mn by ICP-MS and Hg by cold-vapor AAS. These heavy metals are variably dispersed across the lake and the mean concentrations were from below detection limits to 110.7 µg/L. Except for As and Mn, the levels are within the national standards for surface waters. In the south side of the lake near hot springs, As was found in relatively high concentrations up to 116.2 µg/L. The findings of this study on the present-day levels of heavy metals in Laguna de Bay are useful in assessing and sustaining the pollution prevention strategies in this valuable aquatic system that provides natural resources and ecosystem services.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
References
Abdel Gawad SS (2018) Concentrations of heavy metals in water, sediment and mollusk gastropod, Lanistes carinatus from Lake Manzala. Egypt Egypt J Aquat Res 44:77–82. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejar.2018.05.001
Abraham MR, Susan TB (2017) Water contamination with heavy metals and trace elements from Kilembe copper mine and tailing sites in Western Uganda; implications for domestic water quality. Chemosphere 169:281–287. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2016.11.077
Ahmed M, Chin YH, Guo X, Zhao XM (2017) Microwave assisted digestion followed by ICP-MS for determination of trace metals in atmospheric and lake ecosystem. J Environ Sci (china) 55:1–10. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jes.2016.06.014
American Public Health Association (2017) Standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater, 23rd edn. American Public Health Association, American Water Works Association, and Water Environment Federation, Washington, DC
Avigliano E, Schenone NF, Volpedo AV, Goessler W, Cirelli AF (2015) Heavy metals and trace elements in muscle of silverside (Odontesthes bonariensis) and water from different environments (Argentina): aquatic pollution and consumption effect approach. Sci Total Environ 506–507:102–108. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2014.10.119
Baker BA, Topliff AR, Messing RB, Durkin D, Johnson JS (2005) Persistent Neuropathy and hyperkeratosis from distant arsenic exposure. J Agromed 10(4):43–54. https://doi.org/10.1300/J096v10n04_07
Bhuyan MS, Bakar MA, Akhtar A, Hossain MB, Ali MM, Islam MS (2017) Heavy metal contamination in surface water and sediment of the Meghna River, Bangladesh. Environ Nanotechnol Monit Manag 8:273–279. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enmm.2017.10.003
Blanco AC, Nadaoka K (2006) A comparative assessment and estimation of potential soil erosion rates and patterns in Laguna Lake watershed using three models: towards development of an erosion index system for integrated watershed-lake management. In: Symposium on infrastracture development and the environment. pp 1–12
Chatterjee D, Adak S, Banerjee N, Bhattacharjee P, Bandyopadhyay AK, Giri AK (2018) Evaluatıon of health effects, genetıc damage and telomere length ın children exposed to arsenic in West Bengal, İndia. Mutat Res Genet Toxicol Environ Mutagen 836:82–88. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mrgentox.2018.06.012
Chavez HM, Casao EA, Villanueva EP, Paras MP, Guinto MC, Mosqueda MB (2006) Heavy metal and microbial analyses of janitor fish (Pterygoplichthys spp.) in Laguna de Bay Philippines. J Environ Sci Manag 9(2):31–40
Ciazela J, Siepak M, Wojtowicz P (2018) Tracking heavy metal contamination in a complex river-oxbow lake system: middle Odra Valley, Germany/Poland. Sci Total Environ 616–617:996–1006. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.10.219
Cruz RVO, Pillas M, Castillo HC, Hernandez EC (2012) Pagsanjan-Lumban catchment, Philippines: summary of biophysical characteristics of the catchment, background to site selection and instrumentation. Agric Water Manag 106:3–7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2011.08.003
Cuvin-Aralar MLA (1990) Mercury levels in the sediment, water, and selected finfishes of Laguna Lake, The Philippines. Aquaculture 84:277–288. https://doi.org/10.1016/0044-8486(90)90093-3
Department of Environment and Natural Resources (2016) Water quality guidelines and general effluent standards of 2016 (DAO 2016–08). Philippines. https://pab.emb.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/DAO-2016-08-WQG-and-GES.pdf. Accessed 5 Dec 2019
Driessnack MK, Jamwal A, Niyogi S (2017) Effects of chronic exposure to waterborne copper and nickel in binary mixture on tissue-specific metal accumulation and reproduction in fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas). Chemosphere 185:964–974. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2017.07.100
Fabro L, Varca LM (2012) Pesticide usage by farmers in Pagsanjan-Lumban catchment of Laguna de Bay, Philippines. Agric Water Manag 106:27–34. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2011.08.011
Gárriz Á, del Fresno PS, Carriquiriborde P, Miranda LA (2019) Effects of heavy metals identified in Chascomús shallow lake on the endocrine-reproductive axis of pejerrey fish (Odontesthes bonariensis). Gen Comp Endocrinol 273:152–162. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ygcen.2018.06.013
Giammanco S, Ottaviani M, Valenza M, Veschetti E, Principio E, Giammanco G, Pignato S (1998) Major and trace elements geochemistry in the ground waters of a volcanic area: Mount Etna (Sicily, Italy). Water Res 32:19–30. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0043-1354(97)00198-X
Gorme JB, Maniquiz MC, Song P, Kim L-H (2010) The water quality of the Pasig River in the City of Manila, Philippines: current status, management and future recovery. Environ Eng Res 15(3):173–179. https://doi.org/10.4491/eer.2010.15.3.173
Hallare AV, Kosmehl T, Schulze T, Hollert H, Köhler H-R, Triebskorn R (2005a) Assessing contamination levels of Laguna Lake sediments (Philippines) using a contact assay with zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos. Sci Total Environ 347:254–271. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2004.12.002
Hallare AV, Pagulayan R, Lacdan N, Köhler H-R, Triebskorn R (2005b) Assessing water quality in a tropical lake using biomarkers in zebrafish embryos: Developmental toxicity and stress protein responses. Environ Monit Assess 104:171–187. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-005-1610-z
International Agency for Research on Cancer (2019) IARC Monographs on the identification of carcinogenic hazards to humans. https://monographs.iarc.fr/agents-classified-by-the-iarc/. Accessed 27 Nov 2019
Jiang Z, Xu N, Liu B, Zhou L, Wang J, Wang C, Dai B, Xiong W (2018) Metal concentrations and risk assessment in water, sediment and economic fish species with various habitat preferences and trophic guilds from Lake Caizi, Southeast China. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 157:1–8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoenv.2018.03.078
Jirsa F, Gruber M, Stojanovic A, Omondi SO, Mader D, Körner W, Schagerl M (2013) Major and trace element geochemistry of Lake Bogoria and Lake Nakuru, Kenya, during extreme draught. Chem Erde 73:275–282. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemer.2012.09.001
Kakareka S, Kukharchyk T, Kurman P (2019) Major and trace elements content in freshwater lakes of Vecherny Oasis, Enderby Land, East Antarctica. Environ Pollut 255:113126. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2019.113126
Khazaal SH, Al-Azawi KF, Eassa HA, Khasraghi AH, Alfatlawi WR, Al-Gebori AM (2019) Study the level of some heavy metals in water of lake habbaniyah in Al-Anbar-Iraq. Energy Procedia 157:68–74. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.egypro.2018.11.165
Lacayo ML, Cruz A, Calero S, Lacayo J, Fomsgaard I (1992) Total arsenic in water, fish, and sediments from Lake Xolotlán, Managua, Nicaragua. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 49:463–470. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01239653
Laguna Lake Development Authority (2017a) 2017 Annual Report. http://llda.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/dox/ar/ar17.pdf. Accessed 20 Nov 2019
Laguna Lake Development Authority (2017b) LLDA quarterly water quality report, Laguna Lake and Tributary Rivers, October to November 2017. Available via the LLDA website. https://llda.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/dox/waterqualityrpt/2017/2017q4.pdf. Accessed 06 Dec 2020
Laguna Lake Development Authority (2019a) LLDA quarterly water quality report, Laguna Lake and Tributary Rivers, January to March 2019. https://llda.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/dox/waterqualityrpt/2019/2019q1.pdf. Accessed 06 Dec 2020
Laguna Lake Development Authority (2019b) LLDA quarterly water quality report, Laguna Lake and Tributary Rivers, April to June 2019. Available via the LLDA website. https://llda.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/dox/waterqualityrpt/2019/2019q2.pdf. Accessed 06 Dec 2020
Laguna Lake Development Authority (2019c) LLDA quarterly water quality report, Laguna Lake and Tributary Rivers, July to September 2019. Available via the LLDA website. https://llda.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/dox/waterqualityrpt/2019/2019q3.pdf. Accessed 06 Dec 2020
Laguna Lake Development Authority (2019d) LLDA quarterly water quality report, Laguna Lake and Tributary Rivers, October to November 2019. Available via the LLDA website. https://llda.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/dox/waterqualityrpt/2019/2019q4.pdf. Accessed 06 Dec 2020
Leyssens L, Vinck B, Van Der Straeten C, Wuyts F, Maes L (2017) Cobalt toxicity in humans—a review of the potential sources and systemic health effects. Toxicology 387:43–56. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tox.2017.05.015
López D, Ransom L, Monterrosa J et al (2009) Volcanic arsenic and boron pollution of Ilopango lake, El Salvador. Geogenic arsenic in groundwater of Latin America. CRC Press, London, pp 129–143. https://doi.org/10.1201/b11334-17
Mastoi GM, Lashari KH, Palh ZA, Soomro AN, Laghari ZA, Almani KF, G-e-RAW M, Abbasi AR (2014) Water quality assessment of Manchar Lake during the month of August and November 2011 by analyzing selected trace elements. Afr J Pure Appl Chem 8:176–181. https://doi.org/10.5897/AJPAC2014.0588
Maynilad (2019) Water Safety Plan 2019: Managing drinking-water quality from catchment to consumer. http://www.mayniladwater.com.ph/downloads/Maynilad-Water-Safety-Plan-2019.pdf. Accessed 17 Dec 2019
Molina VB, Espaldon MVO, Flavier ME, Pacardo EP, Rebancos CM (2011) Bioaccumulation in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) from Laguna de bay, Philippines. J Environ Sci Manag 14:28–35
National Research Council (US) Committee on Copper in Drinking Water (2000) Health effects of excess copper. National Academy of Sciences, Washington. https://doi.org/10.17226/9782
Paraso MGV, Morales JKC, Clavecillas AA, Lola MSEG (2017) Estrogenic effects in feral male common carp (Cyprinus carpio) from Laguna de Bay, Philippines. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 98:638–642. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-017-2060-3
Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (2018) Volcanoes of the Philippines. https://www.phivolcs.dost.gov.ph/index.php/volcano-hazard/volcanoes-of-the-philippines. Accessed 14 Jan 2020
Racasa E, Lloren R, Manglicmot M, Jago-on KAB, Balangue MAID, Taniguchi M, Siringan F (2018) Lacustrine groundwater discharge in southern Laguna de Bay, Philippines. In: Endo A, Oh T (eds) The water energy food nexus. Springer, Nature Singapore, pp 87–100. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-7383-0_7
Rajeshkumar S, Liu Y, Zhang X, Ravikumar B, Bai G, Li X (2018) Studies on seasonal pollution of heavy metals in water, sediment, fish and oyster from the Meiliang Bay of Taihu Lake in China. Chemosphere 191:626–638. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2017.10.078
Ratnaike RN (2003) Acute and chronic arsenic toxicity. Postgrad Med J 79:391–396. https://doi.org/10.1136/pmj.79.933.391
Saito S (2013) Heavy Metal Mapping of Water, Sediment and Kangkong for Laguna Lake Watershed, Philippines. In: RIHN-LakeHEAD Community Forum 2013—Yaman ng Lawa: adaptive co-management for sustainable use of the Wealth of Laguna Lake. pp 347–355
Sakan S, Sakan N, Anđelković I, Trifunović S, Đorđević D (2017) Study of potential harmful elements (arsenic, mercury and selenium) in surface sediments from Serbian rivers and artificial lakes. J Geochem Explor 180:24–34. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gexplo.2017.06.006
Sander SG, Anderson B, Reid MR, Kim JP, Hunter KA (2013) Trace metal chemistry in the pristine freshwater Lake Hauroko, Fiordland, New Zealand. Microchem J 111:74–81. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.microc.2012.12.012
Santos-Borja A, Nepomuceno D (2005) Laguna de Bay: experience and lessons learned brief. https://iwlearn.net/documents/6001. Accessed 27 Nov 2019
Shakeri A, Ghoreyshinia S, Mehrabi B (2015) Surface and groundwater quality in Taftan geothermal field, SE Iran. Water Qual Expo Health 7:205–218. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12403-014-0141-7
ShyleshChandran MS, Ramasamy EV, Mohan M, Sruthi SN, Jayasooryan KK, Augustine T, Mohan K (2019) Distribution and risk assessment of trace metals in multifarious matrices of Vembanad Lake System, Peninsular India. Mar Pollut Bull 145:490–498. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2019.06.034
Singh J, Kalamdhad A (2011) Effects of heavy metals on soil, plants, human health and aquatic life. Int J Res Chem Environ 1:15–21
Tamayo-Zafaralla M, Santos RAV, Orozco RP, Elegado GCP (2002) The ecological status of Lake Laguna de Bay, Philippines. Aquat Ecosyst Heal Manag 5:127–138. https://doi.org/10.1080/14634980290031820
United States Environmental Protection Agency (2016) Definition and procedure for the determination of the method detection limit (EPA 821-R-16-006). https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2016-12/documents/mdl-procedure_rev2_12-13-2016.pdf. Accessed 4 Dec 2019
Van Wendel De Joode B, Barbeau B, Bouchard MF, Mora AM, Skytt Å, Córdoba L, Quesada R, Lundh T, Lindh CH, Mergler D (2016) Manganese concentrations in drinking water from villages near banana plantations with aerial mancozeb spraying in Costa Rica: results from the Infants’ Environmental Health Study (ISA). Environ Pollut 215:247–257. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2016.04.015
Varca LM (2012) Pesticide residues in surface waters of Pagsanjan-Lumban catchment of Laguna de Bay, Philippines. Agric Water Manag 106:35–41. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2011.08.006
Vicente-Beckett VA, Pascual CB, Kwan CS, Beckett R (1991) Levels and distribution of trace metals in sediments of Laguna Lake (Philippines) and its tributary rivers. Int J Environ Anal Chem 45:101–116. https://doi.org/10.1080/03067319108026980
Williams M, Todd D, Roney N, Crawford J, Coles C, McClure PR, Garey JD, Zaccaria K, Citra M (2012) Toxicological Profile for Manganese. In: Agency Toxic Subst. Dis. Regist. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK158872/. Accessed 17 Dec 2019
World Health Organization (2011) Cadmium in Drinking Water, Background document for development of WHO Guidelines for Drinking Water Quality. https://www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/dwq/chemicals/cadmium.pdf. Accessed 24 Jan 2020
World Health Organization (2017) Guidelines for drinking-water quality: fourth edition incorporating the first addendum. https://www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/publications/drinking-water-quality-guidelines-4-including-1st-addendum/en/. Accessed 29 Oct 2019
Yazidi A, Saidi S, Ben Mbarek N, Darragi F (2017) Contribution of GIS to evaluate surface water pollution by heavy metals: case of Ichkeul Lake (Northern Tunisia). J African Earth Sci 134:166–173. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jafrearsci.2017.06.009
Zhang N, Wei C, Yang L (2013) Occurrence of arsenic in two large shallow freshwater lakes in China and a comparison to other lakes around the world. Microchem J 110:169–177. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.microc.2013.03.014
Zhou Q, Yang N, Li Y, Ren B, Ding X, Bian H, Yao X (2020) Total concentrations and sources of heavy metal pollution in global river and lake water bodies from 1972 to 2017. Glob Ecol Conserv 22:e00925. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2020.e00925
Acknowledgements
M.P. Espino thanks the Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development for the DOST-PCIEERD Project No. 03919 grant. Shaira Lagazon helped in the statistical analysis of the ICP-MS data. The Laguna Lake Development Authority, the collaborating agency, is gratefully acknowledged especially for the assistance during sampling in the lake. The land cover map was provided by the National Mapping and Resource Information Authority.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Publisher's Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Handling Editor: Masahiro Maruo.
Supplementary Information
Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Sacdal, R., Montano, M.P. & Espino, M.P. Heavy metals in surface waters of Laguna de Bay, Philippines: current levels and trends. Limnology 23, 253–264 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10201-021-00667-x
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10201-021-00667-x