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 OTHMAN^2* & 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

Diserahkan: 17 Mac 2019/Diterima: 1 Januari 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, nilaiHPI 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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*Pengarang untuk surat-menyurat; email: faridahothman@um.edu.my