Phytoremediation uses plants to remove, extract and absorb heavy or toxic matters from soil and water. This study explores Bougainvillea sp. heavy metals uptake capacity under different ratio of wastewater sludge condition. This study used 24 plants of Bougainvillea sp. and involves a duration of 2 months (61 days). The plants were divided and labelled according to six different treatments with four replications; A - Control (100% soil), B (20% sludge), C (40% sludge), D (60% sludge), E (80% sludge) and F (100% sludge). Accumulation of considered metals of lead and cadmium for leaf, stem and roots were analyzed using Inductive Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectrophotometer (ICP-OES). The highest removal was found to be at 60% sludge mixture for both metals. The highest lead and cadmium accumulation were found in the root with the concentration of 0.1 mg kg-1 and 0.06 mg kg-1 respectively. Thus, the optimum lead and cadmium removal using Bougainvillea sp. was at the 60% sludge mixture (Treatment D).
Wood-based Industries was known to generate various airborne pollutants such as wood and dust. This study was conducted to determine air quality in wood-based Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Malaysia. The determination of total dust and respirable dust was conducted based on National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) 0500 and 0600. Study found that 38.1% (n=16) of the total dust exceed 5 mg/m³ in Schedule 1 of USECHH 2000. None of the respirable dust concentration exceeds 5 mg/m3 of wood dust concentration by Schedule 1 of USECHH 2000 and OSHA but 4.8% (n = 2) had exceed 3mg/m3 by ACGIH. In conclusion, dust and total volatile organic compound was found in wood-based SME where few total dust concentrations for both workplace environment level had exceeded 5mg/m3 but none was seen for respirable dust concentration.
House dust was found to be a great indicator of metal pollutants for indoor air quality. This study aims to assess the level of metals in house dusts and identify the relationship between the composition of metals concentration in low cost apartment, Kuala Lumpur. Eight houses were selected randomly from four levels of low cost apartment buildings. The samples were collected using a brush and plastic pan and then the samples were digested. The compositions of metals were determined using Inductively Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectrometer (ICP-OES) and statistical analysis was used to analyze the data by using Statistical Packages for the Social Sciences (SPSS). The results show that the highest concentration of metals obtained was Fe with the mean value of 1483.64 mg/kg followed by Zn with the mean value of 1197.07 mg/kg, while Cd recorded as the lowest mean value of 0.131 mg/kg. The trend distribution of metals in the investigated areas followed the order Fe > Zn > Cu > Pb > Cd. Statistical analysis indicates significant correlation between all the possible pairs of metals.