Sains Malaysiana 38(5)(2009): 631–636

Geochemical Proxy of Some Chemical Elements in Sediments of

Kemaman River Estuary, Terengganu, Malaysia

(Proksi Geokimia bagi Beberapa Unsur Kimia di Dalam Sedimen Muara

Sungai Kemaman, Terengganu, Malaysia)

Kamaruzzaman Yunus*

Institute of Ocenography & Maritime Studies

International Islamic University Malaysia

Jalan Istana, Bandar Indera Mahkota

25200 Kuantan, Pahang

Ong Meng Chuan

Faculty of Maritime Studies & Marine Science

Universiti Malaysia Terengganu

21030 Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu

Received: 31 July 2008 / Accepted: 24 November 20

ABSTRACT

The concentrations of heavy metals (Mn, Co, Cu and Cr) were determined in the surface sediments from Kemaman River estuary using Inductively Coupled Plasma – Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). The relationship of heavy metal content with sediment particles size was studied. The average concentration of heavy metals are 597.8 μg/g dry weight, 16.0 μg/g dry weigh, 48.8 μg/g dry weight and 100.4 μg/g dry weight for Mn, Co, Cu and Cr, respectively. All metals showed low Enrichment Factor (EF) values (EF<1) when compared with Al which indicates that the elements in the sediment originated predominantly from crustal material or terigenous in origin. This study shows that there is a positive correlation between the mean particle size and the studied elements.

Keywords: Enrichment factor; Kemaman River estuary; particle size; surface sediment

ABSTRAK

Kepekatan logam berat (Mn, Co, Cu dan Cr) di dalam sedimen permukaan muara Sungai Kemaman telah dianalisis dengan menggunakan Spektrometri jisim – Plasma gandingan teraruh (ICP-MS). Hubungan di antara kepekatan logam berat dan saiz partikel sedimen juga dikaji. Purata kepekatan logam berat bagi Mn adalah 597.8 μg/g berat kering, 16.0 μg/g berat kering bagi Co, 48.8 μg/g berat kering bagi Cu dan 100.4 μg/g berat kering bagi Cr. Nilai Faktor Pengayaan (EF) yang rendah (EF<1) bagi semua logam dibandingkan dengan kepekatan Al boleh dianggap sebagai mempunyai sumber terigenus yang dominan atau secara semulajadi. Kajian ini juga menunjukkan hubungan kolerasi yang baik di antara kepekatan logam dan saiz purata partikel yang dikaji.

Kata kunci: Faktor pengayaan; muara Sungai Kemaman; saiz partikel; sedimen permukaan

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*Corresponding author; email: kama@iiu.edu.my