Sains Malaysiana 49(4)(2020): 729-742
http://dx.doi.org/10.17576/jsm-2020-4904-02
Baseline Study of Heavy Metal Pollution in a
Tropical River in a Developing Country
(Kajian Peringkat DasarPencemaran Logam Berat di Sungai Tropika di Negara Membangun)
TENGKU
NILAM BAIZURA TENGKU IBRAHIM1, FARIDAH OTHMAN2* &
NOOR ZALINA MAHMOOD3
1Institute of Biological
Science, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Federal
Territory, Malaysia
2Department of Civil
Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur,
Federal Territory, Malaysia
3Department of
Environmental Health, Faculty of Health and Sport Sciences, MAHSA University,
42610, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia
Received: 17 March 2019/Accepted: 1
January 2020
ABSTRACT
Massive load of toxic
heavy metals is discharged by human activities, as well as by natural actions,
give rise to metal contamination in water body. Sembilang is one of the rivers that is receiving effluent from various sources such as
landfill, industrial, residential, and agricultural
runoff. In this study, the concentration of heavy metals in nine stations along
the Sg. Sembilang was collected for one year period to evaluate their levels of pollution. Ten
heavy metals were analyzed using inductively coupled plasma optical emission
spectroscopy (ICP-OES). The mean concentrations of Fe, Mn, Zn, Al, and Cu were 3.01, 0.68,
0.29, 0.007, and 0.027 mg/L respectively, were below the National Water Quality Standards of
Malaysia (NWQS), with the exception of Cd, Cr, Pb, Mg, and Ni. Calculated HPI
based on the mean concentration of heavy metals, was found to be 6.05, that is
below the critical pollution index value of 100. With respect to sampling
locations, station J03 registered the highest value of 7.989. The analysis indicates the present scenario of water quality of Sg. Sembilang due to the effect of effluent from the landfill material, and waste water from
industry, agricultural runoff and residential area. Required steps should be
taken to conserve this river from pollution, and also to lessen the
environmental risk.
Keywords: Heavy metals; Heavy Metal Pollution Index (HPI); river
water quality; water quality
ABSTRAK
Jumlah logam berat toksik yang dilepaskan hasil daripada aktiviti manusia, serta proses semula jadi telah menyebabkan pencemaran logam dalam badan air. Dalam kajian ini, kepekatan logam berat di sembilan stesen pensampelan di sepanjangSg. Sembilang telah dikumpulkan selama satu tahun untuk menilai tahap pencemaran di setiap stesen. Sepuluh logam berat dianalisis menggunakan spektroskopi pelepasan optik plasma (ICP-OES) yang digabungkan secara induktif. Hasil menunjukkan kadar kepekatan Fe, Mn, Zn, Al dan Cu masing-masingialah 3.01,
0.68, 0.29, 0.007 dan 0.027 mg/L di bawah Piawaian Kualiti Air Negara Malaysia (NWQS), kecuali Cd, Cr, Pb, Mg dan Ni. Berdasarkan kepekatan logam berat, nilai HPI didapati berada pada tahap 6.05 iaitu di bawah nilai indeks pencemaran
kritikal, 100. Manakala berdasarkan dengan lokasi persampelan, stesen J03
mencatatkan nilai tertinggi 7.989. Ini disebabkan lokasi J03 yang sangat dekat
dengan titik pelepasan efluen. Analisis ini menunjukkan senario kualiti air Sg. Sembilang kesan daripada efluen daripada bahan pelupusan sampah dan air sisa daripada industri, larian pertanian dan kawasan kediaman. Pelbagai langkah perlu diambil untuk memulihara sungai ini daripada pencemaran dan juga untuk mengurangkan risiko alam sekitar.
Kata kunci: Indeks Pencemaran Logam Berat (HPI); kualiti air; kualiti air sungai; logam berat
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*Corresponding author; email: faridahothman@um.edu.my
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