EVALUATION OF HEAVY METAL POLLUTION IN SEDIMENTS OF THE SELANGOR RIVER, MALAYSIA
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.24191/joa.v14i2.9718Keywords:
Heavy metal; Sediment; Selangor River; Pollution; EDXRFAbstract
This study aimed to assess the pollution levels of heavy metals in river sediments collected from ten locations within the Pasir Penambang area in Selangor, which is known for its intensive economic and marine-related activities. The concentrations of Chromium (Cr), Copper (Cu), Nickel (Ni), Lead (Pb), and Zinc (Zn) were determined using an Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence (EDXRF) spectrometer. The average concentrations of these metals in the sediments were recorded as follows: Cr (62.46 mg/kg), Cu (21.16 mg/kg), Ni (30.48 mg/kg), Pb (26.77 mg/kg), and Zn (103.54 mg/kg). Pollution levels were evaluated using the Index of Geoaccumulation (Igeo), Enrichment Factor (EF), Contamination Factor (CF), and Pollution Load Index (PLI). Results indicated that the sediments were generally classified as uncontaminated to moderately contaminated, primarily with respect to Pb and Zn. EF values revealed minor enrichment for Cu and Zn, and moderate enrichment for Pb. CF and PLI values further supported the presence of low overall pollution levels, with minor pollution observed at a few locations in proximity to aquaculture activities. However, the elevated levels of Pb and Zn, along with minor enrichment of Ni, observed in the study area may contribute to increasing pollution risks, particularly in areas influenced by anthropogenic activities. These findings highlight the need for targeted pollution control measures and long-term sediment monitoring programs.
References
Abdul Hakim, Salleh, Azma Adila, H. N., Farah Liyana, Z., Mu’izzah, M., Chong Joon, C., & Omar Fatehah, M. (2020). Assessment of Heavy Metal Contamination in Sediments in Sungai Pinang River Basin. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 498(1), 012059. https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/498/1/012059?
Apaydın, A., Kabaoğlu, H., Apaydın, G., Şirin, M., Cengiz, E., Köksal, O. K., Baltaş, H., & Tıraşoğlu, E. (2022). Evaluation of ecological risk, source, and spatial distribution of some heavy metals in marine sediments in the Middle and Eastern Black Sea region, Turkey. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 29(5), 7053–7066. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-16017-4
Bahar, M. A. F. M. (2022). Impact of dam and land use change on the flow characteristics of Selangor River basin (Master’s thesis). Universiti Teknologi Malaysia. http://dms.library.utm.my:8080/vital/access/manager/Repository/vital:150592
Environment Canada, & Ministère de l’Environnement du Québec (MENVIQ). (1992). Sediment quality guidelines for the protection of freshwater aquatic life: Minimal effect threshold (MET). Environment Canada.
Farid Ahmed, M., Mahadi, M. R., Md Yusoff, M. K., & Othman, F. (2023). Integrated river basin management for sustainable water supply: Capacity analysis in Selangor. Water, 15(13), 2497.
Förstner, U. & Salomons, W. (1980). Trace metal analysis on polluted sediments. Part I: Assessment of sources and intensities. Environmental Technology Letters, 1, 494–505
Hakanson, L. (1980). An ecological risk index for aquatic pollution control. A sedimentological approach. Water Research, 14(8), 975–1001. https://doi.org/10.1016/0043-1354(80)90143-8
Hasan, M. R., Chowdhury, S., & Ahmed, K. (2024). Probabilistic risk assessment and source apportionment of heavy metals in water and sediment of an industrially impacted urban river, Bangladesh. Water Environment Federation Journal, 95(3), 112–128. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39155848/
Lim, J. W., Lee, C. S., Yap, C. K., & Ismail, A. (2021). Distribution and ecological risk assessment of heavy metals in river sediments from the Pinang River Basin, Peninsular Malaysia. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 165, 112108. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.112108
Lim, S. Y., Wong, P. T., & Chua, L. H. (2022). Assessment of heavy metal pollution and ecological risks in urban river sediments: a case study of Malaysia. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 194(7), 525. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-022-10078-x
Lim, Y.-C., Chen, C.-F., Tsai, M.-L., Wu, C.-H., Lin, Y.-L., Wang, M.-H., Albarico, F. P. J. B., Chen, C.-W., & Dong, C.-D. (2022). Impacts of fishing vessels on the heavy metal contamination in sediments: A case study of Qianzhen Fishing Port in Southern Taiwan. Water, 14(7), 1174. https://doi.org/10.3390/w14071174
MacDonald, D. D., Ingersoll, C. G., & Berger, T. A. (2000). Development and Evaluation of Consensus-Based Sediment Quality Guidelines for Freshwater Ecosystems. Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, 39(1), 20–31. https://doi.org/10.1007/s002440010075
Muller, G. (1969). Index of geoaccumulation in sediments of the Rhine River. GeoJournal, 2, 108–118.
Ng, J. X., Abdullah, R., Syed Ismail, S. N., & ELTurk, M. (2021). Ecological and Human Health Risk Assessment of Sediments near to Industrialized Areas along Langat River, Selangor, Malaysia. Soil and Sediment Contamination, 30(4), 449–476. https://doi.org/10.1080/15320383.2020.1867502
Nyangon, L., Zainal, A. N. S., Pazi, A. M. M., & Gandaseca, S. (2019). Heavy metals in mangrove sediments along the Selangor River, Malaysia. Forest and Society, 3(2), 278. https://doi.org/10.24259/fs.v3i2.6345
Omar, M. S., Hashim, M., N Nayan, Zahid, M. S., H Mahat, Saleh, Y., & See, K. L. (2022). Water Quality of the Jerteh River Basin, Terengganu, Malaysia During the Northeast Monsoon. IOP Conference Series Earth and Environmental Science, 975(1), 012002–012002.
https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/975/1/012002
Othman, F., Chowdhury, Md. S., Wan Jaafar, W. Z., Faresh, E. M. M., & Shirazi, S. M. (2018). Assessing Risk and Sources of Heavy Metals in a Tropical River Basin: A Case Study of the Selangor River, Malaysia. Polish Journal of Environmental Studies, 27(4), 1659–1671.
https://doi.org/10.15244/pjoes/76309
Persaud, D., Jaagumagi, R., & Hayton, A. (1993). Guidelines for the protection and management of aquatic sediment quality in Ontario. Ontario Ministry of the Environment,
Rahim, A., & Kasmuri, N. (2020). Assessment of water quality index and heavy metals in Sungai Bunus, Malaysia. Journal of Physics: Conference Series, 1529, 022028. https://doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/1529/2/022028
Rahman, M. M., Islam, M. S., & Hossain, M. A. (2023). Deciphering the source of heavy metals in industrially affected river sediment of Shitalakshya River, Bangladesh, and potential ecological and health implications. Journal of Hazardous Materials Advances, 100, 100268. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hazadv.2023.100268
Raihan, A., Pereira, J. J., Begum, R. A., & Rasiah, R. (2023). The economic impact of water supply disruption from the Selangor River, Malaysia. Blue-Green Systems, 5(2), 102–120. https://doi.org/10.2166/bgs.2023.031
Rizka Masykury, Hafrijal Syandri & Azrita. (2023). Heavy metal contamination in water column, sediment and fish meat in Batang Kuantan Sijunjung Conservation Area. Jurnal Sumberdaya Akuatik Indopasifik. https://doi.org/10.46252/jsai-fpik-unipa.2023.Vol.7.No.4.339
Sefie, M. A., Mohamad, I. N., Baharudin, F., & Kassim, J. (2021). Ecological Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals Contamination in Lower Klang River. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 920(1), 012023. https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/920/1/012023
Sholkovitz, E. R. (1978). The geochemistry of rare earth elements in the Amazon River estuary. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 42(4), 411–423. https://doi.org/10.1016/0016-7037(78)90185-3
Sutherland, R. A. (2000). Bed sediment-associated trace metals in an urban stream, Oahu, Hawaii. Environmental Geology, 39(6), 611–627. https://doi.org/10.1007/s002540000086
Tan, H. L., Lim, C. K., & Teh, C. H. (2021). Spatial distribution and sources of heavy metals in river sediments under rapid urbanization. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 28, 62345–62360. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-15930-8
Tomlinson, D. L., Wilson, J. G., Harris, C. R., & Jeffrey, D. W. (1980). Problems in the assessment of heavy-metal levels in estuaries and the formation of a pollution index. Helgoländer Meeresuntersuchungen, 33(1-4), 566–575. https://doi.org/10.1007/bf02414780
Turekian, K. K., & Wedepohl, K. H. (1961). Distribution of the elements in some major units of the earth’s crust. Geological Society of America Bulletin, 72(2), 175–192. https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1961)72[175:DOTEIS]2.0.CO;2
Wang, A., Bong, C. W., Tao, S., Ye, X., Liu, B., Liang, H., Zheng, X., Wong, Y. Y., & Loh, K. H. (2025). Evaluation of heavy metal pollution and ecological risk of surface sediments in a tropical mountainous River‑Estuary‑Shelf Continuum system: a case study of the Selangor River, Malaysia. Marine Environmental Research, 205, 107017. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marenvres.2025.107017
Wedepohl, K. H. (1995). The composition of the continental crust. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 59(7), 1217–1232. https://doi.org/10.1016/0016-7037(95)00038-2
Yap, C. K., Al-Mutairi, K. A., & Cheng, W. H. (2022). Enrichment factors and ecological risks of heavy metals in Malaysian river sediments. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 179, 113684. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.113684
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Nadasofa Mohd Saidi, Sabarina Md Yunus, Nik Azlin Nik Ariffin, Dayang Nurhaziqah Awang Daramat
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
