<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

The current study was conducted to estimate the baseline concentration of heavy metals in the surface sediment of Marudu Bay. Environmental parameters were measured at the seafloor and samples of the surface sediment were collected at monthly intervals for the period of 12 months. The organic content, total N, total P and concentration of 16 trace metals in the surface sediment were analyzed. The baseline concentration of metals was estimated by geochemical normalization. Anthropogenic inputs of metals were then estimated by calculating the enrichment factor for each element. The result demonstrated that the C/N ratio of sediment at Marudu Bay varies from 15 to 342, which indicates the dominance of terrestrial organic matter. The baseline concentration of V, Fe, Mn, Zn, Ti, Rb and Sr were 26.74 mg kg-1, 1.04%, 205.31 mg kg-1, 34.09 mg kg-1, 507.61 mg kg-1, 93.25 mg kg-1, 37.56 mg kg-1, respectively. The concentration of most metals was comparable to the baseline, except Mn and Zn which showed higher concentrations in most parts of Marudu Bay. In conclusion, the metal concentration in Marudu Bay is still within the permissible levels and should not cause any threats to public health.
</abstract>

The current study was conducted to estimate the baseline concentration of heavy metals in the surface sediment of Marudu Bay. Environmental parameters were measured at the seafloor and samples of the surface sediment were collected at monthly intervals for the period of 12 months. The organic content, total N, total P and concentration of 16 trace metals in the surface sediment were analyzed. The baseline concentration of metals was estimated by geochemical normalization. Anthropogenic inputs of metals were then estimated by calculating the enrichment factor for each element. The result demonstrated that the C/N ratio of sediment at Marudu Bay varies from 15 to 342, which indicates the dominance of terrestrial organic matter. The baseline concentration of V, Fe, Mn, Zn, Ti, Rb and Sr were 26.74 mg kg-1, 1.04%, 205.31 mg kg-1, 34.09 mg kg-1, 507.61 mg kg-1, 93.25 mg kg-1, 37.56 mg kg-1, respectively. The concentration of most metals was comparable to the baseline, except Mn and Zn which showed higher concentrations in most parts of Marudu Bay. In conclusion, the metal concentration in Marudu Bay is still within the permissible levels and should not cause any threats to public health.

Temporal and spatial variability of heavy metals in Marudu Bay, Malaysia

Oceanological and Hydrobiological Studies

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

{"article-title":"Temporal and spatial variability of heavy metals in Marudu Bay, Malaysia"}

The current study was conducted to estimate the baseline concentration of heavy metals in the surface sediment of Marudu Bay. Environmental parameters were...

Temporal and spatial variability of heavy metals in Marudu Bay, Malaysia

Article Category: Original research paper

Published Online: Sep 22, 2016

Page range: 353 - 367

Received: Jan 19, 2016

Accepted: Feb 29, 2016

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/ohs-2016-0032

Keywords
marine sediments, heavy metals, nutrients, enrichment factor

© 2016 Faculty of Oceanography and Geography, University of Gdańsk, Poland. All rights reserved

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Temporal and spatial variability of heavy metals in Marudu Bay, Malaysia

Article Category: Original research paper

Published Online: Sep 22, 2016

Page range: 353 - 367

Received: Jan 19, 2016

Accepted: Feb 29, 2016

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/ohs-2016-0032

Keywordsmarine sediments, heavy metals, nutrients, enrichment factor

© 2016 Faculty of Oceanography and Geography, University of Gdańsk, Poland. All rights reserved

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Keywords
marine sediments, heavy metals, nutrients, enrichment factor