Evaluation of Organic Matter and Trace Metal Contamination in Surface Sediments around the Geum River Estuary using Sediment Quality Guidelines

The primary objective of this study is to determine trace metal contamination in environmental samples obtained from Pahang River and Kelantan River, Malaysia which may help to identify the risk of sustainable dredging in these areas. This research also proceeds to compare the trace metal concentration with the National Water Quality Standards of Malaysia, Interim Canadian Sediment Quality Guidelines and Malaysian Food Act 1983 to determine its limits and risks. Samples of water, sediment, snails and fishes were collected and analyzed for As, Cu, Cd, Cr, Fe, Pb, Ni, Mn, and Hg by using atomic absorption spectrophotometer. It was found that the concentration of trace metals namely As, Cu, Cd, Cr, Pb, Ni, and Hg in river water, sediment, snail and fish samples in Pahang River were lower than the maximum allowable limits, except for Fe and Mn. In Kelantan River, the concentration of trace metals indicating that it is contaminated with Fe, Mn, Pb, Cr, Cu, Hg, and As as all trace metals exceeded the maximum allowable limits. Negative impacts may arise, and the river may contaminate more in future if there is no proper management to tackle this issue during execution of dredging activities.

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The changes in trace metal contamination over the last decade in surface sediments of the Pearl River Estuary, South China

The Science of The Total Environment ◽

10.1016/j.scitotenv.2012.09.025 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 439 ◽

pp. 141-149 ◽

Cited By ~ 62

Author(s):

Baowei Chen ◽

Ximei Liang ◽

Weihai Xu ◽

Xiaoping Huang ◽

Xiangdong Li

Keyword(s):

Trace Metal ◽

South China ◽

Metal Contamination ◽

Surface Sediments ◽

River Estuary ◽

Pearl River Estuary ◽

Pearl River ◽

Trace Metal Contamination ◽

The Pearl River Estuary ◽

The Pearl River

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Aquatic Plant Trapa natans L. as Bioindicator of Trace Metal Contamination in a Freshwater Lake (Skadar Lake, Montenegro)

Acta Botanica Croatica ◽

10.1515/botcro-2016-0031 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 75 (2) ◽

pp. 236-243 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Dragana Petrović ◽

Dejan Jančić ◽

Martina Furdek ◽

Nevenka Mikac ◽

Slađana Krivokapić

Keyword(s):

Trace Metal ◽

Metal Contamination ◽

National Park ◽

Aquatic Plant ◽

Aquatic Macrophyte ◽

Sediment Quality ◽

Southeastern Europe ◽

Trace Metal Contamination ◽

Quality Guidelines ◽

Trapa Natans

Abstract Skadar Lake is the largest shallow lake in southeastern Europe. It is located within a national park, and is included in the Ramsar List of international important wetlands, so its preservation and protection from pollution is very important. The aim of this study was to investigate bioaccumulation of the ecotoxic metals Cd, Pb and Cr from sediments of Skadar Lake in the aquatic macrophyte Trapa natans L. Samples of sediment and plants were collected at nine locations covering all major water inputs to the lake as well as locations where contamination could be expected. The obtained results indicate that sediments from the Skadar Lake are only locally contaminated with Cd (0.03–1.18 mg kg−1), generally contaminated with Cr (15.8–180 mg kg−1), the concentrations of both elements frequently exceeding sediment quality guidelines, while concentrations of Pb were low (2.7–17.4 mg kg−1). The highest bioaccumulation of all metals from sediment to Trapa natans L. was observed in the root, with accumulation efficiency decreasing in the order Cd > Cr > Pb. Translocation from root to stem was also higher for Cd than for Cr and Pb, while the translocation from stem to leaf was comparable for all three metals. From the three investigated metals Cd showed the highest mobility. The results indicate that Trapa natans L. may be a very promising bioindicator of trace metal contamination in Skadar Lake.

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