Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Environmental Studies, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
Laboratory of Marine Biotechnology, Institute of Bioscience, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
Environ Geochem Health. 2019 Feb;41(1):27-42. doi: 10.1007/s10653-018-0149-1. Epub 2018 Jul 7.
Sediment can accumulate trace elements in the environment. This study profiled the magnitude of As, Ba, Cd, Co, Cu, Cr, Ni, Pb, Se, and Zn pollution in surface sediments of the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia. Trace elements were digested using aqua regia and were analyzed using the inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. The extent of elemental pollution was evaluated using with the enrichment factor (EF) and geoaccumulation index (I). This study found that the elemental distribution in the sediment in descending order was Zn > Ba > Cr > Pb > Cu > As > Ni > Co > Se > Cd. Zn concentrations in all samples were below the interim sediment quality guideline (ISQG) (124 mg/kg). In contrast, Cd concentrations (2.34 ± 0.01 mg/kg) at Station 31 (Merlimau) exceeded the ISQG (0.70 mg/kg), and the concentrations of As in the samples from Station 9 (Tanjung Dawai) exceeded the probable effect level (41.60 mg/kg). The I and EF revealed that Station 9 and Station 31 were extremely enriched with Se and Cd, respectively. All stations posed low ecological risk, except Station 31, which had moderate ecological risk. The outputs from this study are expected to provide the background levels of pollutants and help develop regional sediment quality guideline values. This study is also important in aiding relevant authorities to set priorities for resources management and policy implementation.
沉积物可以在环境中积累微量元素。本研究分析了马来西亚半岛西海岸表层沉积物中砷、钡、镉、钴、铜、铬、镍、铅、硒和锌污染的程度。使用王水消解痕量元素，并用电感耦合等离子体质谱法进行分析。采用富集因子（EF）和地积累指数（I）评价元素污染程度。本研究发现，沉积物中元素的分布顺序为 Zn＞Ba＞Cr＞Pb＞Cu＞As＞Ni＞Co＞Se＞Cd。所有样品中的 Zn 浓度均低于临时沉积物质量指南（ISQG）（124mg/kg）。相比之下，Merlimau 站 31（Merlimau）的 Cd 浓度（2.34±0.01mg/kg）超过 ISQG（0.70mg/kg），而 Tanjung Dawai 站 9（Tanjung Dawai）的 As 浓度超过了可能的影响水平（41.60mg/kg）。I 和 EF 表明，站 9 和站 31 分别对 Se 和 Cd 具有极高的富集作用。除站 31 外，所有站点的生态风险均较低，而站 31 的生态风险为中度。本研究的结果有望提供污染物的背景水平，并有助于制定区域沉积物质量指导值。本研究对于帮助相关部门确定资源管理和政策实施的优先事项也很重要。
