an assessment of surface water quality and heavy metals … · 2016. 12. 8. · pollute water...

www.MyCM.ump.edu.my

Journal of Malaysian Critical Metals ISSN (Print): 0128-2557; Volume 1, 2016

© Penerbit Universiti Malaysia Pahang

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________

An Assessment of Surface Water Quality and Heavy Metals Involving the Rare Earth Elements in Sungai Tunggak and

Sungai Balok, Gebeng, Kuantan, Pahang

Siti Umi Kalthum Ab Wahab1*, Siti Hajar Shaibullah2, Mohd Armi Abu Samah1, Mohd Shukri Mohd Aris1

1Department of Biotechnology, Kulliyyah of Science, International Islamic University Malaysia, Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia

2 Department of Biomedical Science, Kulliyyah of Allied Health Science, International Islamic University Malaysia, Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia

Email : [email protected]

Abstract

Water pollution caused by rare earth elements (REEs) and heavy metals have become serious threats to the survival of aquatic organisms, human, and environment especially in Pahang. This alarming circumstance has inspired the study to measure water quality parameters and concentration of REEs and heavy metals in the rivers within an industrial area. For achieving these objectives, collected data was done in dry seasons (April – June) in year 2014 and 2015. Both data were compared and analyzed based on different locations at the selected river in Gebeng industrial area, Pahang. The physical parameters such as temperature, specific conductivity, pH, turbidity, dissolved oxygen (DO), and biological oxygen demand (BOD) were measured by using hydrolab. The water samples were then collected for tracing the REEs and heavy metals by using Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). Malaysian Interim National Water Quality Standard (INWQS) was used as reference. Water quality parameters were all within the permissible limit except for turbidity in both year 2014 and 2015. Besides, REEs elements investigated in this study showed that the concentration of one of the investigated elements was thorium exceeded the permissible limit at the upstream area which recorded 2.54 ppb in year 2014. The current study progress is not fully investigated, but as the whole, the study outcomes envisaged the pollutants presence may be reflected with river water flow from upstream, middle stream and downstream. © 2016 Penerbit Universiti Malaysia Pahang Selection and Peer-review under responsibility of Conference on Malaysian Rare Earth Technology: From Processing to Production 2015 (COMRET 2015).

Keywords: water quality, rare earth element, heavy metal, industrial area

1. INTRODUCTION

Radioactive elements are naturally present in the environment. They are also called as rare earth elements (REEs) and heavy metals. REEs can be well defined as a group of seventeen elements in the periodic tables. It consists of fifteen lanthanides plus two other elements which is scandium and yttrium. Rare earth elements are divided into two categories, which are light REEs (LREEs) and heavy REEs (HREEs). The categories are sorted depending on their atomic masses and radii of each element. Light REEs are lanthanum (La), cerium (Ce), praseodymium (Pm), neodymium (Nd), and samarium (Sm) while heavy rare earth elements are those elements that have atomic numbers 64 until 71 plus yttrium, atomic number 39 (Hurst, 2010). The example of heavy REEs includes gadolinium (Gd), terbium (Tb), dysprosium (Dy), holmium (Ho), erbium (Er), thulium (Tm), ytterbium (Yb) and lutetium (Lu).

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Siti Umi Kalthum et. al., MyCM.(2016). Vol. 1, 11-24 12

For heavy metals, they have no definite meaning. They have various definitions in term of density, atomic weight, atomic number, and toxicity. Despite their diverse definition, all heavy metals possess metallic property such as high density, ductile and shiny. Heavy metals are considered as a very hazardous pollutants to the environment because of their toxicity, persistence, and bioaccumulation problems (Ye et al., 2012). They also can be sorted into lethal metals and essential metals according to their toxicity.

Each REEs and heavy metals are needed and played their own role in human life. For instance, some metals such as Zn, Cu, Mn, Ni, and Co are classified as micronutrients that played a vital role in aquatic ecosystems. However, they are also able to give worst impact towards the health of consumers if they are in quantity that more than necessary. The increase need and demand on petrochemical industries and mining industries gave rise to concentration of radioactive elements in the water besides heavy metal pollution, which is another source of pollution (Ileperuma, 2000).

The higher accumulation of heavy metal concentration in the aquatic environment is catastrophic to aquatic ecosystem, human and has been progressing in Malaysia (Naji et al., 2010). Besides, the presence of heavy metal at higher concentration can cause poisoning, damage or death in animals, humans, and plants. According to Hachiya, (2006), the Minamata disease affects the brain, neuron system and tubule cell, which control the movement of people and the balance of the body. Methyl mercury can sustain from one organism as stable organic compound. It can dilute and spread very fast because the degradation of it in water is too low. Fish accumulate heavy metals in tissues and human are exposed to that through the food web. It can enter our bodies through food and drinking water.

Due to the impact of radioactive elements and heavy metals, their concentration in water surface in Malaysia should be periodically monitored and examined to evaluate the possible risks associated with the consumption of drinking water. Water quality assessment can also be done through evaluation of physical parameters such as temperature, pH, conductivity, biological oxygen demand (BOD), dissolved oxygen (DO), and turbidity. If not managed properly, radioactive elements can pollute water supplies such as river and sea. Since they have a tendency to dilute in the river, their prescribed average safety levels in water are often misleadingly high.

The Minamata disease outbreak has led the analysis of REEs and heavy metal. However, the research in this area is still quite limited. Therefore, the research was conducted to measure the water quality parameters and concentration of radioactive elements and heavy metals in the rivers within an industrial area. The permissible limit of these radioactive elements and heavy metals in rivers was discussed. The research was done in Pahang state, focusing more on Gebeng Industrial Area.

2. MATERIALS AND METHODS

2.1 Study Area Description

All the samples were collected at Sungai Balok and Sungai Tunggak, Pahang. Sungai Balok flows originally from Sungai Batang Panjang from the hill to the northwest of Gebeng Industrial area, while Sungai Tunggak originates from the Tanah Merah peat swamp forest and flows south along the eastern boundary of the Gebeng Industrial Area. The site of Gebeng Industrial Area is within the catchment areas. Thus all discharges from factories will enter the river system and flows into the South China Sea.

During this study, three transect lines (TL 1, TL 2, TL 3) were set up with 6 sampling points fixed along each transect lines for both river. The transect lines were classified as upstream (TL 1), middle stream (TL 2), and downstream (TL 3). The upstream indicates the farthest transect line from the ocean and the downstream indicates the transect line that was nearest to the ocean, while the medium stream was in the middle between these two lines or the convergence between both rivers.


SB1, SB2, and SB3 were located in Sungai Balok area while ST1, ST2, and ST3 were located in Sungai Tunggak area. Station SB1 and ST1 were situated in upstream area while station SB2 and ST2 were located in middle stream area. Station SB3 and ST3 were located in downstream zone. In short, the total sampling points for both rivers is 6.

Figure 1: Map of Sampling Locations in Gebeng

2.2 Sampling Methodology

2.2.1 Preparation prior to sampling

Prior to sampling process, all sampling gears were well prepared a few days earlier. The apparatus that was used for sampling such as falcon tube were dipped in 5% nitric acid (HNO3) overnight. After that, all the apparatus were rinsed with distilled water and left to dried. These measures were taken in order to eliminate contamination to the samples during sampling process. The preparation of 5% HNO3 was done according to the following formula (Sigma-Aldrich, 2014):

Where: M = molarity of HNO3

MW = molecular weight of the concentrated HNO3

For example, to prepare 10L of 5% HNO3, 694mL of concentrated HNO3 will be added into 9.306L of distilled water.

2.2.2 Sampling collection

The method for in-situ parameter was adapted from Yap et al. (2011) with some adjustment. Sampling activity was carried out for upstream, middle stream, and downstream in the similar time

M = % x density of HNO3 x 1000

MW (g/mol)

SB1

SB2

ST 1

ST2

SB3 ST3


of sampling at the selected rivers. Water samples from Sungai Tunggak and Sungai Balok (Gebeng Industrial Area) were taken from 6 sampling point altogether. The sample from each sampling points were taken duplicated to get more accurate result. The sampling collection was done for 2 times in each month for three months to get average of the result. There were two main parameters measured which are in-situ parameters (physicals parameter) and ex-situ parameters (heavy metals and rare earth elements detection). Physical parameter that were measured involved water temperature, specific conductivity, pH, turbidity, dissolved oxygen (DO) and biological oxygen demand (BOD). Physical parameters were measured by using Hydrolab, while heavy metals and rare earth elements detection were done by using Inductively Couple Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS).

In-situ parameter

All data were collected and recorded at the surface of the river at each of the sampling point. The sonde unit was lowered to depth and waits for the Hydrolab to equilibrate the readings for water temperature, specific conductivity, pH, turbidity, and dissolved oxygen (DO). Then, the STORE key was pressed to display and the measurements were saved. After that, all the measurements were compared with the permissible limit in accordance with Interim National Water Quality Standard for Malaysia (INWQSM). The water samples were collected by using water sampler. When the water fills the tube, the messenger was go down and gave sign to both sides of the water sampler tubes to close. This was done to ensure the equal amount of water taken from each sampling points. The water samples were kept in 1L PTFE bottle for each sampling points for heavy metals and REEs analysis, while for determination of biological oxygen demand (BOD) reading, the water samples were kept in different PTFE bottles. The PTFE bottles were labelled according to the sampling point taken, and they were placed in an icebox in order to preserve the nature and content of the water. Then, the samples were brought to the lab for heavy metal and rare earth elements (REE) analysis. Preservation of the samples were done by adding 2mL of 2% nitric acid (HNO3) in PTFE bottles (for analysis of heavy metals and REEs) and kept in the cold room. The method for in-situ parameter was adapted from Yap et al. (2011) with some modification.

2.2.3 Laboratory analysis

Apparatus and samples preparation

The samples were analyzed in accordance with APHA standard method (WEF, 2005; APHA, 2007) with some adjustment. All apparatus including glassware, consumable and disposable items were immersed in 5% nitric acid overnight. Then, distilled water was used to rinse all the apparatus and they were dried in oven at 60ºC. All these preventive measures were taken in the preparation of apparatus in order to get rid of contaminations. For sample preparation, 20mL water samples were diluted to 40mL with 2% nitric acid. The samples were filtered by using 0.45µm nylon filter syringe. The purpose of filtration was to remove any insoluble material, unwanted debris and other impurities. Filters were washed with the water sample first to remove any metals and elements that may be present before filtering the samples. The filtered solutions were stored in the refrigerator (-20˚C) until analysis. Filter solution then were injected and ran in Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass spectrometer (ICP-MS) to determine the content of heavy metal and rare earth elements (REEs). The concentration was recorded in ppb units. Determination of Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD5)

The method for determination of biological oxygen demand (BOD5) was analyzed in accordance with Standard 5210 B (APHA, 2007) with some modification. 15mL of water samples from each sampling point was added to 1L beaker and then top up to 300mL with dilution water. Dilution water was a mixture of 1mL each of four different solutions (phosphate buffer solution, magnesium sulphate solution, calcium chloride solution, ferric chloride solution) and made up to 1L. The beakers were covered with aluminium fold and stored in the dark. After five days, dissolved oxygen (DO) readings


of diluted samples were recorded and biological oxygen demand (BOD) was determined and calculated based on formula:

Where: BOD = biological oxygen demand DO = dissolved oxygen f = dilution factor

2.2.4 Rare earth elements (REEs) and heavy metals analysis

Preparation of stock solution for ICP-MS

Blank were operated as a quality assurance in this study. The blanks samples were contained only acid and act as a negative control. Before the analysis process takes place, the standard stock solution was prepared by using the Multi-Element Calibration Standard supplied by Perkin Elmer. The Multi-Element Calibration Standard that was used for heavy metals and rare earth elements was different according to the metals and elements measured. The element that present in the water must be same with the element present in the Multi-Element Calibration Standard. The multi-element was used as it is compatible with ELAN9000 ICP-MS. This was a vital step in order to obtain a good calibration curve. The best calibration curve was crucial as it is a benchmarked that ICP-MS could produce an acceptable quantitative data for detection of heavy metals or rare earth elements. The best value for calibration curve was ≥0.995 of correlation coefficient (R2). A standard calibration curve will be produced by diluting the standard reference solution to 0.1, 0.5, 1.0, 3.0 and 5.0 ppb respectively. The analyzed heavy metal were cadmium, zinc, and lead while for rare earth elements, thorium, uranium, and lanthanum were analyzed.

2.2.5 Analytical and statistical analysis

The method for analytical and statistical analysis was adapted from Yap et al. (2011) with some modification. The collected data for water quality parameters were compiled using Microsoft Excel (version 2010) and analyzed by using SPSS version 22. Water quality parameter readings were analyzed and compared to the Interim National Water Quality Standard for Malaysia (INWQS) adopted by Department of Environment (DOE).

Calculation of heavy metal and REEs content in the water samples were calculated by using the

formula below: The collected data for heavy metals and rare earth elements were compiled using Microsoft Excel

(version 2010) and analyzed by using SPSS version 22. Then, the concentration of heavy metals and rare earth elements in the water samples were compared with the permissible limit standard.

Heavy metal and REEs content

= [ICP-MS reading (ppb) - blank] x dilution factor x total volume

1000 x constant volume

BOD5 mg/L = (DO1 – DO5) x f


3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

3.1 Water Quality

The samples collected from each sampling points were analyzed and compared to the Interim National Water Quality Standard for Malaysia (INWQS) adopted by Department of Environment (DOE) (Table 1). DOE classified the river system in Malaysia into five classes with each of classification has its own beneficial uses (Table 2).

Table 1: Interim National Water Quality Standard for Malaysia

Parameter Unit Interim National Water Quality Standard for Malaysia

Classes

I IIA IIB III IV V

BOD mg/L 1 3 3 6 12 >12

DO mg/L 7 5-7 5-7 3-5 <3 <1

pH - 6.5-8.5

6-9 6-9 5-9 5-9 -

Specific conductivity

µS/cm 1000 1000 - - 6000 -

Salinity % 0.5 1 - - 2 -

Temperature ˚C - Normal

+ 2˚C

- Normal

+ 2˚C

- -

Turbidity NTU 5 50 50 - - -

Table 2: Water Quality Classification

Class Uses

I Conservation of natural environment Water Supply I- practically no treatment necessary (except by disinfection or boiling

only) Fishery I- very sensitive aquatic species

IIA Water supply II- conventional treatment required Fishery II- sensitive aquatic species

IIB Recreational use with body contact

III Water supply III- extensive treatment required Fishery III- common, of economic value and tolerant species Livestock drinking

IV Irrigation

V None of the above

3.1 Dissolved Oxygen (DO)

The average dissolved oxygen (DO) of total sampling for sampling location SB1 until ST3 are shown in Figure 2. The average of DO observed at Balok River in year 2014 was very high compared with the average of DO observed for both Balok River and Tunggak River in year 2015 especially at sampling point SB3 with 5.945 mg/L. Based on INWQS, for year 2014, all sampling points (SB1, SB2, SB3) which indicate the higher level of DO more than 3 mg/L are fall within class III. However, for year 2015, only sampling point ST3 are fall within class III while the others sampling point are fall within class IV.

The DO concentration in river reveals the amount of oxygen supply in water. It is closely related to many factors such as flow of the river, present of sources of organic pollution, temperature of water and assimilative capacity of the river. Besides, biological activity also plays an important role in controlling DO level. Other than that, this could be due to lack of aquatic organism in water. Best et al.


(2007) mentioned that low DO level could result from lacking of aquatic plant and aerobic organism in water. Microorganism breakdown organic materials and use all the available oxygen in river water which is supplied by aquatic plants. Photosynthesis process releases oxygen while respiration and nitrification consume oxygen (Yap et al., 2011). As observed, it can be noticed that residential areas, factories, and food stalls which is located along the rivers are increasing from year 2014 to 2015. Most of their wastes are flow into the river. Thus, the low concentration of DO recorded at most sampling points in year 2015 indicate that the input of organic pollutants from upstream affect the DO concentration at downstream due to the utilization of DO by microorganism to breakdown the organic matter.

Figure 2: Average DO of total sampling.

3.2 pH

Figure 3 shows the average pH of total sampling for sampling location SB1 until ST3. pH was shown to be the most stable parameter which did not show drastic different between all sampling points. Both of the rivers in this study recorded pH of about 5-9 for both year 2014 and 2015. Compared to INWQS, the average pH of total sampling in all sampling points for both year 2014 and 2015 were within the permissible limit and categorized under class III and IV.

The pH value which showed acidic value at the upstream of both rivers (SB1 and ST1) were the nearest to the selected study area which occupied by most of the industries. SB1 was located near the Lynas area while ST1 was located near the mining area. The low value of pH could be strongly associated to acidic substance in the excreted industrial effluents from various industries in that area including chemical and mining. However, according to Yap et al. (2011), there were some other factors which might affect the pH value of water. A few factors stated by Yap were photosynthetic activity, microbial respiration, and decomposing activities especially when it involves rivers. The alkaline pH value at other locations especially at downstream might be resulting from industrial effluents consist of polymer, chemical, metal, gas and power industries (Hossain et al., 2013).

Ave

rage

DO

(m

g/L)

Locations

AVERAGEDISSOLVEDOXYGEN 2014

AVERAGEDISSOLVEDOXYGEN 2015

BALOK RIVER TUNGGAK RIVER


Figure 3: Average pH of total sampling.

3.3 Specific conductivity

The average specific conductivity of total sampling for sampling location SB1 until ST3 are presented in Figure 4, ranged between 0 to 60µS/cm. Generally, the average specific conductivity of total sampling in all sampling locations for both year 2014 and 2015 were within the permissible limit and comply with Class II of INWQS.

Specific conductivity refers to the ability of the water to conduct electricity and it closely related to dissolved ion content in the water (APHA, 2007). Both downstream areas for the river have the higher value of conductivity because of inflowing of saline water during high tide from South China Sea. Besides, there is other sources from wastewater of housing area, industrial area, urban and surface run-off that influence the concentration of ions in water such as natrium ion (Na+) and chloride ion (Cl-) which is contributed by the seawater that affect the level of conductivity. This was supported by Arthur and Brandes (2007). They were reported that ionic pollutants from the industries and other anthropogenic activities also contribute to level of conductivity in water. In short, the higher the concentration of ions, the higher the level of specific conductivity in water.

3.4 Temperature

The average temperature of total sampling for sampling location SB1 until ST3 are shown in Figure 5. Same as pH, temperature also showed slightly different between all sampling points for both year 2014 and 2015 which were range in 25 to 35˚C. Referring to INWQS, the level of temperature for all sampling points for both year 2014 and 2015 were normal as the reading shown higher than 2˚C. All the readings fall within class IIA and III.

3.5 Turbidity

Figure 6 represents the average turbidity of total sampling for sampling location SB1 until ST3. Both of the rivers in this study recorded high turbidity for both year 2014 and 2015 which is SB1 showed the highest with 171 NTU for year 2015. Based on INWQS, the average turbidity of total sampling in all sampling points for both year was exceed the permissible limit (50 NTU) except for SB3 for year 2014 and SB2 for year 2015.

Turbidity refers to the concentration of particulate matter suspended in water. The factors that affect turbidity in water include clay, silt, finely divided organic and inorganic matter, soluble colored organic compounds, plankton and microscopic organism. As observed, the day before sampling was a rainy day. Therefore, rainfall also contributes to high level of turbidity of water. It is because large amount of fine sediment was eroded from land and washed into the rivers. This was supported by

Ave

rage

pH

Locations

AVERAGEpH 2014AVERAGEpH 2015



Yap et al. (2011) in their study. They mentioned that heavy rainfall could result in runoff which increases the presence of clay.

Figure 4: Average specific conductivity of total sampling.

Figure 5: Average temperature of total sampling.

Ave

rage

tem

per

atu

re (

˚C)

Locations

AVERAGETEMPERATURE2014

AVERAGETEMPERATURE2015

TUNGGAK RIVERBALOK RIVER

Ave

rage

sp

ecif

ic c

on

du

ctiv

ity

(µS/

cm)

Locations

AVERAGESPECIFICCONDUCTIVITY2014AVERAGESPECIFICCONDUCTIVITY2015



Figure 6: Average turbidity of total sampling.

3.6 Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD)

The average concentration of biological oxygen demand (BOD5) observed at sampling location SB1 until ST3 for year 2015 are shown in Figure 7, ranged between -30 to 10 mg/L. Based to INWQS, it is known that the concentration of BOD in non-polluting rivers ranges from 1-3 mg/L. All sampling locations showed the concentration values less than 3 mg/L which are parallel with normal concentration of BOD for non-polluting rivers except downstream part of Tunggak River (ST3). Based on BOD concentration, the river can be categorized as Class I and Class II. BOD is the quantity of oxygen utilized by the microorganisms to break down organic matter. The fluctuation in BOD concentration was related with DO concentration in water. However, it did not show in this study.

Figure 7: Average BOD of total sampling.

Ave

rage

tu

rbid

ity

(NTU

)

Locations

AVERAGETURBIDITY2014

AVERAGETURBIDITY2015

BALOK RIVER TUNGGAK RIVERA

vera

ge B

OD

(m

g/L)

Locations

AVERAGEBOD 2014AVERAGEBOD 2015



3.2 Heavy Metals

Heavy metals analysis was done on each of collected samples through Inductively Couple Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). Six types of heavy metals were determined in year 2014, while for year 2015, the research are still in progress.

Figure 8 shows the average concentration of heavy metals in Balok River for year 2014. According to figure 8, concentration of Zinc (Zn) was highest at upstream part (SB1) and decrease as it flows to middle stream part (SB2) and downstream part (SB3) with value of 3100, 2820, 684.5 ppb respectively. The same trend followed by Ferum (Fe) and Copper (Cu) as it flowed from upstream to downstream part. However, the concentration of Manganese (Mn) and Lead(Pb) were increase from upstream area (SB1) to the downstream area (SB3) with value of 74.05, 114.6 and 173.85ppb for Mn, and 4.715, 23 and 221ppb for Pb. Compared to INWQS, Fe, Mn, Cu, Pb and Ni concentration were higher than permissible limit in a few locations.

Figure 8: Average of heavy Metals Concentration in Balok River for Year 2014. The high level of heavy metals in Balok River may be occurred due to industrial effluents water

discharged. The reasons for high Pb level at SB3 might be due to leaded petrol spill from fishing boats. The dust which contains a vast amount of Pb from the combustion of petrol in automobile vehicle also contributed to increase Pb Level in river. It is because SB3 was located near to heavily travelled road and it was the main spot for fishing activity. Besides, iron, steel manufacturing and the diesel fuel burning in motor cars are major contributors to level of Mn in water (Saeed and Shakeer, 2008). According to Aziz et al. (2008), the main source of Ni are chemical industries and mining which means that the presence of these industries in Gebeng area resulted in high level of Ni in all locations.

3.2 RADIOACTIVE ELEMENTS

REE analysis was done on each of collected samples through the same machine used for heavy metals analysis. Two types of radioactive elements were determined in year 2014, while for year 2015, the research are still in progress. They are thorium-232 and Uranium-238.

Figure 9 shows the average concentration of radioactive elements in Balok River for year 2014. As observed from figure 8, concentration of Thorium (Th) was decrease from upstream (SB1), middle stream (SB2) and downstream (SB3) with the values of 2.54, 0.74, and 0.42 ppb respectively. The readings were against the study done by Nasirian et al. (2008), which concluded that the natural concentration of thorium-232 in water is within the range 0.005-0.5ppb. The concentration of U-238 was almost the same at all locations where the highest concentration was recorded at SB3 with -4.34 ppb and the lowest concentration recorded at SB2 with -4.58 ppb. Despite the negative value the

Co

nce

ntr

atio

n (

pp

b)

Locations

Fe

Zn

Mn

Cu

Pb

Ni


concentration of U at all location was within natural concentration in water while for Th, there are two locations that exceed the natural concentration.

The highest concentration of Th-232 might be occurred due to presence of rare earth refining company near the sampling location. As Th-232 and U-238 was not the target of refining process, so they can be detected in waste stream. Nasirian et al. (2008) mentioned in their journal that high concentration of Th-232 and U-238 can be attributed to insolubility of minerals bearing these radionuclides such as monazite, zircon and ilmenite. Despite the controlled treatment outlined and measures taken by industries, the huge amount of effluent water could cause mobilization of radioactive pollutant to the environment. Therefore, it is very important to maintain the safety measures of waste water treatment in order to avoid massive pollution of radioactive waste like happened in China which claimed to be worst case incident especially regarding the impact to environment as well as human health (Bell, 2012).

Figure 9: Average of Radioactive Elements Concentration in Balok River for Year 2014.

4. CONCLUSION

The assessment of water quality in Balok River and Tunggak River was done based on INWQS adopted by DOE. Overall, the average values of water quality parameters (DO, pH, specific conductivity, temperature, BOD) at some locations for both years are within the permissible limit except for turbidity. However, the concentration of heavy metals also exceeded the permissible limit in some location except Zinc. The concentration of Th-232 was beyond the natural concentration in two sampling locations while for U-238, the concentration was within the natural concentration. In short, the river can be categorized in Class II, III and IV according to INWQS.

5. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I would like to acknowledge International Islamic University Malaysia for the financial support using Endowment B 14-098-098.

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an assessment of surface water quality and heavy metals … · 2016. 12. 8. · pollute water...

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