Partitioning of heavy metals in different environmental and biotic components in the coastal waters of the straits of Malacca, Peninsular Malaysia

Aim: Heavy metal contents in copepods, waters and sediments from an unpolluted Gula estuary, off a mangrove area in Perak (0455.185'N, 10027.761'E), were compared with those from a polluted Juru estuary, off an industrial area in Penang (05 19.906'N, 100 22.949'E), Peninsular Malaysia. Methodology: Triplicate composite water, copepod and sediment samples were collected for a period of one year at one-month interval from three permanent stations in the coastal waters off a mangrove forest in Gula estuary, and near an industrial area in Juru estuary. Results: Copepods and sediments from Juru estuary contained significantly higher (p<.05) concentrations of Zn, Cu, Pb, and Cd compared to those from Gula estuary. In fact, these heavy metal concentrations were also significantly higher (p<0.05) in the water columns of Juru estuary than in Gula coastal waters. According to Pearson correlation coefficient analysis, significant correlations (p<0.05) were observed between heavy metal contents in copepods and sediments (Zn, r = 0.664; Cu, r = 0.603; Pb, r = 0.568; Cd, r = 0.501), but no significant correlation (p>0.05) was noted between heavy metal concentrations in water and copepods in both estuaries. Interpretation: The concentration of heavy metals in sediments and copepods were relatively more stable than those in the water column, indicating that copepods and sediments could serve as more useful and reliable markers for environmental monitoring than seawater.

Actions (login required)

View Item