Malaysian Journal of Analytical Sciences, Vol 27 No 1 (2023): 108 - 118

 

Seasonal Variation in Concentration OF HEAVY METALS in Tropical River Sediment

 

(Variasi Bermusim dalam Kepekatan Logam Berat di Dalam Sedimen Sungai Tropikal)

 

Nur Amirah Hidayah Madzlan1, Suhaimi Suratman2, Khairul Nizam Mohamed3, Ong Meng Chuan1,2,4*

 

1Faculty of Science and Marine Environment,

University Malaysia Terengganu, 20130 Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia

2Institute of Oceanography and Environment,

Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030 Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia

3Department of Environment,

Faculty of Forestry and Environment,

Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia

4Ocean Pollution and Ecotoxicology (OPEC) Research Group,

Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030 Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia

 

*Corresponding author: ong@umt.edu.my

 

 

Received: 23 October 2022; Accepted: 24 November 2022; Published:  22 February 2023

 

 

Abstract

Heavy metal contamination has a more significant impact than microbial and organic contaminations as the elements could remain in the aqueous and particulate phases for an extended period. Setiu River, Terengganu, is one of the crucial rivers utilised as sites for aquaculture by the local communities. Generally, the concentrations of lead (Pb), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), and arsenic (As) were influenced by human activities around river systems. Consequently, the present study investigated the seasonal concentration variations of Pb, Zn, Cu, and As in the surficial sediment of the river. The sediment samples were collected between January and July 2017, corresponding to the wet and dry seasons, from 60 different sampling locations along the river. The samples were subjected to Teflon bomb closed digestion procedures with mixed acid before the concentrations of the metals were determined with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Resultantly, the mean concentrations of Pb, Zn, Cu, and As were 19.9 ± 9.89, 68.4 ± 31.8, 1.30 ± 0.66, and 3.05 ± 0.53 µg/g dry weight (wt.), respectively, in the samples gathered in the wet season (January). Alternatively, the samples collected during the dry season (July) contained 16.7 ± 15.1, 68.9 ± 48.5, 14.7 ± 16.9, and 2.46 ± 2.78 µg/g dry wt. mean concentrations of Pb, Zn, Cu, and As, respectively. The sample sediment quality was assessed based on the geoaccumulation index (Igeo). Based on the Igeo, the area was considered uncontaminated to moderately contaminated as the average values acquired were within Classes 0 and 2. Nevertheless, the pollution load index (PLI) revealed elevated concentrations of the metals, thus indicating anthropogenic sources, particularly in the aquaculture area. Accordingly, the Setiu river was assumed to be slightly polluted as the PLI values were 1.25 ± 0.34 (wet season) and 1.00 ± 1.00 (dry season).

 

Keywords: heavy metals, tropical river, pollution, index of geoaccumulation, pollution load index

 

Abstrak

Pencemaran logam logam berat mempunyai kesan yang lebih signifikan berbanding dengan pencemaran mikrob atau organik kerana unsur–unsur ini dapat dikitar dalam fasa berair dan partikulat untuk jangka masa yang panjang. Sungai Setiu di Terengganu adalah salah satu sungai yang penting sebagai tempat akuakultur bagi masyarakat setempat. Secara amnya, kepekatan plumbum (Pb), zink (Zn), kuprum (Cu), dan arsenic (As) dipengaruhi oleh aktiviti manusia di sekitar system sungai. Oleh itu, kajian ini dilakukan untuk menyelidik variasi bermusim dalam kepekatan logam Pb, Zn, Cu dan As dalam sedimen permukaan sungai. Sampel sedimen dikumpulkan dari 60 lokasi persampelan yang berlainan di sepanjang sungai, di antara Januari dan Julai 2017, selaras dengan musim hujan dan musim kering. Setelah kaedah penghadaman tertutup bom Teflon dengan asid campuran, kepekatan logam ditentukan menggunakan spektrometri jisim plasma gandingan aruhan (ICPMS). Dari keputusan yang diperoleh, kepekatan purata Pb, Zn, Cu dan As adalah 19.9±9.89 μg/g berat kering, 68.4±31.8 µg/g berat kering, 1.30±0.66 µg/g berat kering dan 3.05±0.53 µg/g berat kering. untuk musim hujan (Januari), manakala, 16.7±15.1 µg/g berat kering; 68.9±48.5 µg/g berat kering, 14.7±16.9 µg/g berat kering dan 2.46±2.78 µg/g berat kering untuk musim kering (Julai). Penilaian kualiti sedimen menggunakan indeks geoakumulasi (Igeo) menunjukkan bahawa kawasan tersebut masih boleh dianggap tidak tercemar hingga sederhana tercemar kerana nilai purata Igeo dikategorikan dalam Kelas 0 hingga 2. Sementara itu, indeks beban pencemaran (PLI) mendedahkan peningkatan kepekatan logam yang dikaji, menunjukkan sumber antropogenik, terutama di kawasan akuakultur. Sungai Setiu boleh dianggap sedikit tercemar kerana nilai PLI lebih dari 1; 1.25±0.34 (musim hujan); 1.00±1.00 (musim kering). Secara amnya, kepekatan Pb, Zn, Cu dan As telah menunjukkan bahawa logam tersebut dipengaruhi oleh aktiviti manusia di sekitar sistem sungai tersebut.

 

Kata kunci: logam berat, sungai tropikam pencemaran, indeks geoakumulasi, indeks beban pencemaran

 

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