J.Food Pharm.Sci 2022, 10(1), 610-619 www.journal.ugm.ac.id/v3/JFPA Research Article Analysis of Heavy Metals in Shellfish in Tanjung Balai Waters Reny Siahaan 1 , Jansen Silalahi 2 and Zulkifli Lubis 2*) 1 Department of Food Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Sumatera Utara 2 Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Sumatera Utara *Corresponding author: Reny Yuliana Siahaan|email : renysiahaan888@gmail.com Received: 31 December 2021; Revised: 15 March 2022; Accepted: 19 March 2022; Published: 28 March 2022 Abstract: Shellfish is a source of toxic heavy metals and the maximum levels of heavy metals allowed in shellfish by BPOM RI are 1.5 mg/kg for lead (Pb), 1 mg/kg for cadmium (Cd) and 20 mg/kg for copper (Cu). Heavy metal content in shellfish is influenced by environmental pollution in which the shellfish live. The purpose of this study was to determine the levels of heavy metals in three types of shellfish in Tanjung Balai Asahan waters. Shellfish samples were taken from 3 different locations in Tanjung Balai in July 2021. Determination of the levels of heavy metals, Pb, Cd and Cu, in green mussels, mussels and blood clams was carried out using an atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS). The results showed the levels of Pb, Cd and Cu in green mussels in Tanjung Balai, as follows: 0.273 mg/kg – 0.406 mg/kg (Pb), 0.089 mg/kg – 0.106 mg/kg mg /kg (Cd), 1,864 mg/kg – 2,011 mg/kg (Cu). In mussels Pb was 0.051 – 0.095 mg/kg, Cd was 0.077 – 0.091 mg/kg, and Cu was 1.024 mg/kg – 1.064 mg/kg. In blood clamps : 0,184-0,317 mg/kg (Pb) , 0,081 – 0,127 mg/kg (Cd) , 1,564 – 1,744 mg/kg. It was concluded that Cu in green mussels had the highest heavy metal content. The levels of heavy metals in the analyzed shellfish samples were still below the maximum levels permitted by BPOM RI. Keywords: Lead, Cadmium, Copper,Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry, Shellsfish 1. INTRODUCTION Heavy metal is one of the toxic pollutants that can cause death (lethal), and non-death (sublethal) such as impaired growth, behavior and morphological characteristics of various aquatic organisms [1]. If marine biota has been contaminated with these heavy metals consumed within a certain period of time, the heavy metals can become toxic materials that will poison the bodies of living things [2]. Heavy metals such as; Cadmium (Cd), Plumbum (Pb), Copper (Cu) are very dangerous if the dissolved levels in the human body are high enough or exceed the permissible threshold. The main cause of heavy metals being hazardous pollutants because heavy metals cannot be destroyed (non-degradable) by living organisms in the environment and accumulate in the environment, especially settling on the bottom of the water to form complex compounds with organic and inorganic materials by absorption and combination [3]. These heavy metals are very toxic which can enter the human body through several ways, namely food such as fish, shellfish, processed foods, drinking water and can interfere with breathing and skin penetration [4]. One type of marine life is