Ecological Risk Assessment of Heavy Metal Pollution in Mangrove Sediments of the Sepang Besar River, West Coast Peninsular Malaysia

Abstract

The impact of heavy metal contamination caused by human activities on mangroves, rivers, estuaries, and coastal wetlands has gained attention recently. In this study, the presence of heavy metals in the mangrove Sepang Besar River's surface sediments was examined. As, Mo, Pb, Cr, Co, Cd, Ni, and Hg concentrations in sand were measured using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Across all sampling sites, Cr concentrations were the highest and Hg concentrations were the lowest. The concentration of As was found higher than shale's geochemical background value. The range of EFs for As, Mo, and Pb are 4.38 to 12.9, 1.71 to 3.67, and 0.94 to 2.68, respectively. The eight heavy metals and other environmental components were compared using the correlation coefficient. The ecological hazards posed by eight heavy metals (As, Mo, Pb, Cr, Co, Cd, Ni, and Hg) were assessed using the comprehensive enrichment factor (EF) and geo-accumulation index (Igeo). The Enrichment factor and geo-accumulation index, in particular, revealed that Arsenic is the most prevalent heavy metal pollutant in surface sediments in Sepang Besar River mangrove sediments, with some stations requiring specific attention due to high pollution levels.

Bioaccumulation of Metals in Mangrove Snail (Cerithidea obtusa) from Southwest Johor, Malaysia

“…However, the concentration of trace elements in tissues is a result of a delicate balance between several activities, such as absorption, transformation, detoxification, and excretion. As a result, even among creatures with similar ecological environments, the amount of the accumulated components is frequently species-specific [35][36][37].…”

Elemental Composition of Soils in the Heterogeneous Geological Setting of the Mzymta River Basin on the Russian Black Sea Coast

“…The background values were assumed to be the average element concentrations in the upper reaches of the Mzymta river at survey sites 1 -3. The indicative assessment scale of soil pollution hazard according to the total pollution index Zs consists of the following categories: permissible (less than 16); moderately dangerous (16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24)(25)(26)(27)(28)(29)(30)(31)(32); dangerous (32-128); and extremely dangerous (more than 128) [17].…”

“…None of the listed elements were found to be present in higher concentrations in the anthropized zone as compared to the background. However, it should be noted that arsenic is known to be the most abundant contaminant in floodplain soils in other regions with similar climates [27].…”

Utilizing mollusk soft tissue and shells as biomarkers for monitoring heavy metal pollution in mangrove forests

“…Within these diverse ecosystems, various species, including gastropods, thrive. Gastropods, a prominent group of mollusks found in mangroves, play crucial roles in this ecosystem by contributing to nutrient cycling, sediment stabilization, and serving as a food source for other organisms [2] . However, these delicate interactions can be affected by pollution from heavy metals.…”