Sains Malaysiana 46(3)(2017): 393–399

http://dx.doi.org/10.17576/jsm-2017-4603-06

Spatial and Temporal Variation on Distributions of Dissolved and Particulate Arsenic and Mercury in Sungai Kuantan, Pahang

(Perbezaan Temporal dan Reruang bagi Taburan Logam Arsenik dan Merkuri Terlarut

dan Berpartikel di Sungai Kuantan, Pahang)

FIKRIAH FAUDZI¹, MOHD FUAD MISKON¹, KAMARUZZAMAN YUNUS^1*

& MOKHLESUR RAHMAN²

¹Kulliyyah of Science, International Islamic University Malaysia, Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah, Bandar Indera Mahkota, 25200 Kuantan, Pahang Darul Makmur, Malaysia

²Kulliyyah of Pharmacy, International Islamic University Malaysia, Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah, Bandar Indera Mahkota, 25200 Kuantan, Pahang Darul Makmur, Malaysia

Received: 10 August 2015/Accepted: 3 August 2016

ABSTRACT

It is important to monitor the concentration of toxic metals in the Sungai Kuantan as it serves many communities in terms of domestic, fisheries and agriculture purpose. In order to determine the distributions of dissolved and particulate As and Hg in Sungai Kuantan and evaluate its changes temporally and spatially, water samples were collected from the surface and bottom layers in a grid of 9 stations from estuary towards the upstream of Sungai Kuantan from May 2012 till October 2012. The dissolved metals were pre-concentrated using Chelex-100 while particulate metals were digested using Teflon bomb and subsequently were analyzed using ICP-MS. Dissolved As ranging from 4.650 to 36.894 μg L^-1 while dissolved Hg ranging from BDL to 0.011 μg L^-1. Particulate As and Hg varied from 0.650 to 86.087 mg L^-1 and BDL to 5.873 mg L^-1, respectively. Higher concentration of the dissolved elements were found mainly in October 2012 and particulate elements concentration mostly higher in May 2012. The source of the studied metals in the river may be the run-off from the effluent discharges and other natural sources. The toxic elements studied in Sungai Kuantan waters were still below the Interim Marine Water Quality Standard (INWQS) permissible limits.

Keywords: Arsenic; dissolved metals; mercury; river water; suspended particulate matter

ABSTRAK

Pengawalan kepekatan logam toksik di Sungai Kuantan adalah penting kerana sungai tersebut menjadi tumpuan komuniti daripada segi domestik, perikanan dan pertanian. Oleh itu, untuk mengenal pasti logam As dan Hg dalam fasa terlarut dan pepejal terampai yang terdapat di Sungai Kuantan, sampel air di bahagian permukaan air dan di bahagian dasar telah diambil di 9 stesyen bermula dari muara sungai hingga ke hulu sungai pada Mei 2012 sehingga Oktober 2012. Logam terlarut telah dipekatkan menggunakan Chelex-100 manakala logam pepejal terampai dianalisis melalui proses penghadaman Teflon Bomb. Logam surih kemudiannya dianalisis melalui Instrumen Spektrometri Jisim Gandingan Plasma Teraruh (ICP-MS). Logam As terlarut berjulat daripada 4.650 hingga 36.894 μg L^-1 manakala Hg terlarut berjulat daripada BDL hingga 0.011 μg L^-1. Logam As dan Hg fasa pepejal terampai masing-masing berjulat daripada 0.650 hingga 86.087 mg L^-1 dan BDL hingga 5.873 mg L^-1. Kepekatan unsur logam terlarut adalah tinggi pada Oktober 2012 dan logam pepejal terampai yang diperoleh adalah tinggi pada Mei 2012. Logam toksik di Sungai Kuantan berada di bawah paras yang digariskan oleh Piawai Interim Kualiti Air Marin (IMWQS).

Kata kunci: Air sungai; arsenik; logam pepejal terampai; logam terlarut; merkuri

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