Assessment of heavy metal pollution in surface sediments of the Bayan Lepas area, Penang, Malaysia

Khodami S 1 , Surif M 2 , W O WM 3 , Daryanabard R 4

Affiliations 

  • 1 Centre for Marine and Coastal Studies (CEMACS), Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 Penang, Malaysia; Iranian Fisheries Research Organization (IFRO), P. O. Box: 14155-6116, Tehran, Iran. Electronic address: shkhodami@yahoo.com
  • 2 Centre for Marine and Coastal Studies (CEMACS), Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 Penang, Malaysia
  • 3 Centre for Marine and Coastal Studies (CEMACS), Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 Penang, Malaysia; School of Biological Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 Penang, Malaysia
  • 4 Caspian Sea Ecology Research Center, Sari, Iran
Mar Pollut Bull, 2017 Jan 15;114(1):615-622.
PMID: 27887731 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2016.09.038

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the spatial and temporal distribution of heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Co, Fe, Pb, Ni, V, and Zn) in the sediments of Bayan Lepas Free Industrial Zone of Penang, Malaysia. Ten sampling stations were selected and sediment samples were collected during low tide (2012-2013). Metals were analyzed and the spatial distribution of metals were evaluated based on GIS mapping. According to interim sediment quality guidelines (ISQG), metal contents ranged from below low level to above high level at different stations. Based on the geoaccumulation index (Igeo) of sediment, sampling stations were categorized from unpolluted to strongly polluted. The enrichment factor (EF) of metals in the sediment varied between no enrichment to extremely high enrichment. The potential ecological risk index (RI) indicated Bayan Lepas FIZ was at low risk.

* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

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