TITLE:
Pollution Status of Heavy Metals in Surface Sediments Collected from West Coast of Peninsular Malaysia
AUTHORS:
Tijjani Rufa’i Buhari, Ahmad Ismail
KEYWORDS:
Heavy Metals, Surface Sediments, Pollution Indices, West Coast of Peninsular Malaysia
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Access Library Journal,
Vol.7 No.10,
October
19,
2020
ABSTRACT: The present study examined status of heavy metals (Cu, Zn, Pb, Cd and Ni) pollution in the surface sediments of west coast of Peninsular Malaysia. Heavy metals concentrations were determined by using air acetylene flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS) Perkin Elmer Analyst 800. The results of particle size analysis of the surface sediments indicate high metals concentrations at sampling sites with high content of sand and clay particles. The results of Pearson’s correlation analysis based on the relationship between particle size distribution and total heavy metals, and the relationship between the studied metals (Cu, Zn, Pb, Cd and Ni) revealed significant correlations at (p 5 > 3 > 1 > 6 > 4. The Igeo, EF and PLI values indicate heavy metals contamination in the study area, particularly Pb. Considerable attention should be made at sampling sites that showed higher metals contamination in order to monitor metals pollution and save its biological components from deterioration.