Sains Malaysiana 39(4)(2010): 543–547

Spatial Distribution of Lead and Copper in the Bottom Sediments

of Pahang River Estuary, Pahang, Malaysia

(Taburan Plumbum dan Kuprum di Sedimen Dasar Muara Sungai Pahang, Pahang, Malaysia)

Kamaruzzaman Yunus¹*, Siti Waznah Ahmad¹, Ong Meng Chuan² & Joseph Bidai³

¹Institute of Oceanography and Maritime Studies

International Islamic University Malaysia, 25200 Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia

²Faculty of Maritime Studies and Marine Science

Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030 Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu, Malaysia

³Institute of Oceanography, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu

21030 Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu, Malaysia

Received: 12 June 2009 / Accepted: 22 December 2009

ABSTRACT

Bottom sediment samples from 30 stations of Pahang River estuary collected in April 2008 were analyzed for the concentration of Pb and Cu using the Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). The average concentrations of Pb and Cu were 74.31 ± 22.97 μg/g dry weights and 18.65 ± 7.65 μg/g dry weights, respectively. In this study, the concentrations were significantly higher near the mouth river and declined as the sampling points were further away from the estuary. Generally, the concentrations of heavy metals were relatively low when compare with other studies in Malaysia. However, the calculated enrichment factors (EF) obtained for Pb, has a slightly higher value, and was probably influenced by anthropogenic input. The concentration for both metals increased with the decrease of mean size, suggesting their association with the fine fraction of the sediments.

Keywords: Copper; enrichment factor; estuarine sediment; lead; Pahang River estuary

ABSTRAK

Sampel sedimen dasar dari 30 stesen di muara Sungai Pahang diambil pada bulan Ogos 2008 dan diukur kepekatan bagi Pb dan Cu dengan menggunakan peralatan Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). Purata kepekatan Pb and Cu adalah masing-masing 74.31 ± 22.97 μg/g berat kering and 18.65 ± 7.65 μg/g berat kering. Dalam kajian ini, kepekatan bagi kedua-dua logam secara signifikan adalah tinggi di kawasan muara berbanding di kawasan yang lebih jauh daripada muara. Secara umumnya, kepekatan logam di kawasan kajian adalah secara relatifnya rendah berbanding dengan kawasan kajian lain di Malaysia. Walau bagaimanapun, nilai faktor pengkayaan (EF) yang dikira didapati mempunyai nilai yang sedikit tinggi bagi Pb, yang mana berkemungkinan dipengaruhi oleh input antropogenik. Kepekatan logam ini meningkat dengan pengecilan saiz sedimen, mencadangkan perhubungan logam dengan sedimen yang bersaiz kecil.

Kata kunci: Faktor pengkayaan; kuprum; muara Sungai Pahang; plumbum; sedimen muara

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