Assessment of
metal pollution in sediment components of a monsoon-dominated coastal water at Malacca
Strait
Rahim Mohamad Arif Che Abd, Shi Xuefa, Liu Shengfa and Mohamed Che Abd Rahim
Res. J. Chem. Environ; Vol. 26(6); 123-129;
doi: https://doi.org/10.25303/2606rjce123129; (2022)
Abstract
Fluctuation levels of geochemical elements, sediment texture and nutrients were
analysed from five surface sediments taken from the northern Malacca Straits. These
samples were obtained during the RV Discovery Scientific cruises in September 2017
and April 2018 to assess pollution sources during monsoon events. The results show
a higher output of clay and silt revealing that the monsoonal season and cross-shelf
inputs affect textural sediment.
On the other hand, fluctuations in geochemical concentrations are due to industrialization
and urbanization along the Malacca Straits contributed by the local drainage basin.
The presence of the monsoon also affects the diffusivity and absorption at the watersediment
interface leading to constant fluctuation along the straits. Principal component
analysis of the association between geochemical elements sediment texture and nutrients
revealed hydrological factors, mobility and accumulation at the sediment interface.
