Assessment of toxic elements in sediments of Linggi River using NAA and ICP-MS techniques
Md Suhaimi Elias,
Shariff Ibrahim,
Kamarudin Samuding,
Shamsiah Ab Rahman,
Yii Mei Wo
Affiliations
Md Suhaimi Elias
School of Chemistry and Environment, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), 40450, Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia; Analytical Chemistry Application Group (ACA), Waste and Environmental Technology Division, Malaysian Nuclear Agency, Bangi, 43000, Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia; Corresponding author at: Analytical Chemistry Application Group (ACA), Waste and Environmental Technology Division, Malaysian Nuclear Agency, Bangi, 43000, Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia.
Shariff Ibrahim
School of Chemistry and Environment, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), 40450, Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia
Kamarudin Samuding
Environmental Tracer Application Group (E-TAG), Waste and Environmental Technology Division, Malaysian Nuclear Agency, Bangi, 43000, Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia
Shamsiah Ab Rahman
Analytical Chemistry Application Group (ACA), Waste and Environmental Technology Division, Malaysian Nuclear Agency, Bangi, 43000, Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia
Yii Mei Wo
Radiochemistry and Environmental Group (RAS), Waste and Environmental Technology Division, Malaysian Nuclear Agency, Bangi, 43000, Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia
Fourteen sediment samples were collected along Linggi River, Malaysia. Neutron activation analysis (NAA) and inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) techniques were used in the determination of toxic element contents. The results showed that As, Cd and Sb concentrations were higher at all sampling stations, with enrichment factor values ranging from 17.7 to 75.0, 2.1 to 19.5 and 6.6 to 28.4, respectively. Elements of Pb and Zn) were also enriched at most of the sampling stations whilst Cu, Cr and Ni were shown as background levels. The sediment of Linggi River can be categorised as low (32.0). The mean concentrations of elements viz. Cd, Cr, Ni, Pb, Sb and Zn were lower than the threshold effect level (TEL) of FSQGs values except for As. The concentration of As (arsenic) was higher than PEL and PEC of FSQGs values. Keywords: Linggi River, Enrichment factor, Degree of contamination, Freshwater sediment quality guidelines, NAA, ICP-MS
