Affiliations: [a] Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Science, Universitas Syiah Kuala, Banda Aceh – 23111, Indonesia
| [b] Graduate School of Mathematics and Applied Sciences, Universitas Syiah Kuala, Banda Aceh – 23111, Indonesia
| [c] School of Medicine, Universitas Syiah Kuala, Banda Aceh, Aceh, Indonesia
| [d] Department of Social Science, Faculty of Public Policy, Universität Erfurt, Erfurt – 99089, Germany
| [e] Department of Mechanical and Product Design Engineering, School of Engineering, FSET Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, VIC – 3122, Australia
| [f] Department of Physics, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Syiah Kuala, Banda Aceh – 23111, Indonesia
| [g] Department of Chemistry Education, Faculty of Education and Teacher Training, Universitas Syiah Kuala, Banda Aceh – 23111, Indonesia
Abstract: Hazardous metal pollution has raised a global concern to its increasing trend in response to industrial growth. As an emerging economy, Indonesia starts to receive a backlash of increasing anthropogenic activities resulting in higher emission of heavy metal pollutants. Heavy metals are non-biodegradable pollutants and toxic to humans and other living organisms. Herein, we have reviewed published investigations on the contamination of heavy metals (Pb, Cu, Hg, Ni, Cd, Zn and As) in aquatic and terrestrial animals, attributed to anthropogenic activities in Indonesia. Some reports found the contamination levels have surpassed the tolerable limits of international standards. Most of the research was conducted in the industrial area, indicating that the heavy metal released into the environment can reach the human body through the food chain. A report in a non-industrial area suspected the contamination to be originated from the chain of anthropogenic activities (fertiliser industry—agriculture—livestock industry).
Keywords: Heavy metal, health, contamination, animal, industry, wastewater
