Heavy Metals Nickel and Chromiumin Sediments in the Juru River, Penang, Malaysia

Abstract

Study was conducted to determine the concentrations of (Ni) and (Cr) in sediment and to investigate the effect pH and organic matters on concentrations of nickel and chromium in sediment at Juru River, Penang, Malaysia. The sequential extraction procedure was used based on defined fractions: exchangeable, acid reduction, oxidation and residual. The concentrations of Ni and Cr in residual fraction were higher than the other fractions. In non-residual fractions, the concentration of heavy metals in organic matter fraction was much higher than other fractions (6.63 ± 3.90 µg/g −1 dry weight) for nickel and (6.44 ± 2.10 µg/g −1 dry weight) for chromium. The pH of the sediment in all sites was acidic. The mean of total concentrations of Ni and Cr was 38.21 and 24.92 µg/g −1 dry weight, respectively. Results of organic matter analysis showed that the percentage of organic matter present in sediment samples varied throughout the river and all sites of sediments were ranged from 7.10% to 16.20%. Comparison between sampling sites using one-way analysis of variance showed that there were significant differences for Ni (P < 0.05) while there was no significant differences for Cr (P > 0.05) in changeable fraction. At acid reduction, oxidation and residual fractions, there were significant differences for the two metals (P < 0.05). For anthropogenic metals, Ni was varied significantly (P < 0.05) whereas Cr was not found significantly (P > 0.05). Analysis of pH and percentage of organic matter present in sediment conclude that Ni and Cr were not strongly correlated at oxidation fraction.

The Study of Heavy Metals on Sediment Quality of Kuala Perlis Coastal Area

“…In this study, pH value in point A and B are in the range of 7.1- 7.5 which shows the environment is in slightly alkaline condition. The pH condition was quite similar to the study done by Idris and Ahmad [8] which shows that Juru river sediment condition were also in slightly acidic to slightly alkaline condition which are due to the presence of heavy metals (nickel and chromium) in the sediment. Meanwhile, point C, D and E were exists in moderately alkaline environment since the pH range between 7.6-8.3 which the pH where not mainly altered by the waterways contaminants.…”

Risk Assessment of Heavy Metal Concentrations in Sediments of Matang Mangrove Forest Reserve

“…The OM content in the sediment was between 38% and 45% for all six compartments. Remarkably, lower values in the range of 7% to 16% (Idriss & Ahmad, 2013) and even 0.1% to 2.8% (Ahmad et al, 2009) were reported in other Malaysian mangroves. Similar to this study, Maslennikova et al (2012) reported 50% to 33% of OM in Russian lake.…”

Determination of Total Organic Carbon Concentration in Surficial Sediments of Sungai Pinang, Penang, Malaysia

“…The low water flow condition leads to sediments being suspended in water column to have more time to sink and redeposited at the bottom [20]. The consequences of river transportation were found in many rivers such as Klang River [20], Juru River, Malaysia [41] and Keelung River drainage basin, Taiwan [42] Furthermore, estuary has been well known as a settlement for sedimentation during tidal period and tends to have higher sedimentation rate [20,41].…”