Study of water and sediment surface quality on defilement of heavy metals Pb & Cd at a downstream section of Musi River, South Sumatera, Indonesia

Abstract

This research (1) analyzed the content of Pb and Cd in water and sediment; (2) analyzed physical and chemical parameters in water; (3) determined the enrichment factor and accumulation index of Pb and Cd in sediments; and (4) to identified water quality based on the Pollution Index (IP) and STORET. The analysis was carried out using PCA (Principal Component Analysis) and Pearson's correlation, and was conducted in the downstream section of the Musi River, Palembang, using a random sampling technique. Based on the analysis, it was found that the content of Pb and Cd in the waters had surpassed the quality standard whereas the contents of both heavy metals found in the sediment still met the quality standard. It was also found that several variables of the physical and chemical parameters did not meet the criteria. Based on the Enrichment Factor (EF) and the Accumulation Index (Igeo) of Pb and Cd, the river had not been defiled. The pollution index values of both IP and STORET indicated that the water had been heavily polluted. Based on the PCA, three factors which affected the quality of the river water were found.

Keywords

• abiotic
• defilement
• evaluation
• index
• mud
• quality