Assessment of organic phosphorus distribution in the sediment and waters of Langat River, Malaysia

The Langat River traverses rapidly developing urban areas in Malaysia and is significantly affected by anthropogenic activities. The introduction of excessive phosphorus into rivers poses a significant ecological issue. Water and sediments were sampled from nine stations at Langat River to evaluate the current and potential impacts of organic phosphorus. The water quality parameters indicated a progressive decline downstream, attributed to allochthonous sources from tributaries and land use practices. Inorganic substances were the principal cause of pollution in the river while degradation of organic pollution biologically is reduced. Dissolved organic phosphorus (DOP) played a significant role at stations that are either relatively unpolluted or in areas with high population density and dominated by agricultural lands, serving as a potential source of bioavailable phosphorus. The total organic phosphorus in the sediment increased downstream, predominantly comprising non-labile fractions (67 – 78%). The labile fractions exhibited strong correlations with dissolved oxygen (DO) (r = -0.797), dissolved organic phosphorus (DOP) (r = 0.931), and conductivity (r = 0.837), suggesting internal loading to the water column. Increased non-labile fractions indicated the sediment's capacity to retain organic phosphorus. The downstream stations exhibited elevated risk owing to high sorption capacity, sediment deposition rate and land use type in the basin.

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