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Updated: Jul 6, 2026

Clean Sampling and Analysis of River and Estuarine Waters for Trace Metal Studies
Published on: July 1, 2016
Trace metal and rare-earth element concentrations and distribution in freshwater-estuarine karst subterranean river
Frank Paolo Jay B Albarico1, Genese Divine B Cayabo2, Rodulf Anthony T Balisco3
1Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology, Kaohsiung City, 81157, Taiwan; Sustainable Environment Research Center, National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology, Kaohsiung City, 81157, Taiwan; Department of Marine Environmental Engineering, National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology, Kaohsiung City, 81157, Taiwan.
Abstract:
Pollutant impacts on subterranean ecosystems remain largely unexplored. We present the trace metals (TM) and rare-earth elements (REE) in the benthic organisms (Macrobrachium sp.) from Puerto-Princesa Underground River, a World's New 7 Wonders of Nature site. Essential (Mn, Fe, Co, Cu, and Zn) and non-essential (Cr, Ni, V, Cd, and Pb) TMs and REEs were analyzed using ICP-OES. Macrobrachium population is in great health condition, having a length-weight relationship slope of b = 3.24 and condition factor (K) of 1.0. Essential metals did not vary much among stations, but non-essential metals were higher inside the river. Detected REEs include Pr > Nd > Sm > Yb > Gd > Y > La > Sc > Tm at lower concentrations. Both TMs and REEs were not significantly different (P > 0.05) between males and females, while size showed an impact, indicating bioaccumulation and growth dilution for selected elements. We present biological and chemical data on a unique brackish-freshwater underground river biota, enhancing our understanding of subterranean ecology and biogeochemistry.
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