A Study Of Rivers In Malaysia Environmental Sciences Essay

A Study Of Rivers In Malaysia environmental Sciences EssayHeavy admixtures ar most abundant forms of defilement in Malaysia e really in the forms of solid or liquid. With the vast industrialisation and economic development in coastal region, levelheaded scratchs argon move to be introduced to the estuarine and coastal milieu which eventually end up into the river, runoffs and land based bowl (Yu et al., 2007). Metals diffuses into the aquatic environment accommodate for pay off down and be incorporated into repositoryations together with entire matters, Fe/Mn oxides, sulfides, and clay (Wang and Chen, 2000). However, heartbreaking surface mobility or availability in contaminate materials depends to large extent upon the different chemic and mineralogical forms that occurred (Song et al., 1999). Therefore, repositorys seem to be an first-class medium in the judgment of the metals bound to the particulate matters. N unmatchabletheless, depositarys argon known t o strike as a sink for glum metals to be introduced into waters either from both lifelike and anthropogenic stemmas thus providing an excellent proof of mans squeeze (Pempkowiase et al., 1999 Guevara et al., 2005). In addition, they may withal act as traps for different types of pollutants including heavy metals (Poh and Mun, 1994). Indeed, changes in environmental conditions such as pH and redox capableness should be monitored since it may results in remobilization of heavy metals. Unfortunately, due to the scarcity of discipline available to establish the heavy metal concentration in sediment use sequential fall, no information is presented concerning the heavy metal befoulment in the rivers except for one author Shazili et al., 2008 on Langat River Basin. Heavy metals part is particularly of import be build every slight changes in availability may cause these elements to become either toxic or deficient to launch (Krishnamurti et al., 1995). In fact, sequential line analysis is a technique which is apply to investigate the geochemical partitioning of heavy metals amongst solid mineral and organic phases in sediment or separate earth minerals (Howard and Vandenbrink, 1999). ordered fractionation also frequently used in approaches to evaluate metals distribution into different chemical forms present in solid phases. Although direct rules fork up an unambiguous designation of the heavy metal forms and steerings why they occur, they might not be sufficiently sensitive where heavy metals occur at relatively low gear levels and they do not let quantitative information on heavy metal mobility and availability (Song et al., 1999). However, sequential extraction approach is undoubtedly utile since some attempts have completed and few modification have been make based on Tessier et al., (1979) such as Silviera et al., (2006) Krishnamurti et al., (1995) Song et al., (1999) Forghani et al., (2009), Poh and Mun, (1994).2.0 Problem teachin gLangat river, Bernam River and Klang River basin is located in the state of Selangor in which known to be the most developing states in Malaysia other than Kuala Lumpur. All of these rivers are primarily master(prenominal) as water source not only peculiar(a) to proviso water to consumer but also for other purposes such as aquaculture and agriculture activity, fishing, sewer water discharge, irrigation and even sand mining. With the vast industrialization held in the river such as sand mining it generate the release of metal bound in sediment into the water promoting metals diffussion into the aquatic organisms and eventually ends up into humans consistence. More over, each metals poses their own threat to human, particularly Cadmium (Cd) are known for cause adverse health strengths, once ingest into our tree trunk it entrust cause lung cancer moreover it seldom serious as a cause of phytotoxicity in paddy field (Chaney, 2010). On the other hand, Zinc (Zn) is a deficient and phytotoxic element in sediment which causes abdominal pain to humans, the latter due to industrial contamination (Chaney, 2010). Copper (Cu) in sediments strongly adsorbs to clay minerals, iron and manganese oxides and organic material. In addition, it tends to stop in horizons that have a greater organic content whereas light-haired sediment with low pH poses the greatest potence for Cu leaching. On contrary, lead (Pb) is con locatingred to be one of the major(ip) environmental pollutants and has been incriminated as a cause of accidental poisoning in domestic animals more than any other substance. In a nutshell, these metals are emboldened to be analyses since this metal endured high toxicity in the environment thus poses high potential threat and risk to humans and living organisms.3.0 Significance of StudyThis get is crowing since in Malaysia there is only few attempted hear exploitation sequential extraction as medium in find the great deal of metals in environment . Particularly, this turn over will be useful as a baseline data for goverment bodies to be more sensitive on the issues related to heavy metals. On the other hand, this study will provide a delineation on the sources of metals which contribute the most anthropogenically or naturally to the environment since the major contributor on the environment deteroriation is a non pinnacle source. Therefore, seeing the potential sources is crucial in maintaining the environment. Nonetheless, by conducting this study it ables to generate a profound understanding on the sources and parent materials of which heavy metals are super introduce to the estuary. Thus, contribute to the discovery of metals strength and percentage of binding to organic or inorganic pollutants. Hence, providing an illustration on the status of pollution in the selected rivers based on screening of the forms of metals associated in the river. In addition, the attempted method will utter a method development in assesi ng the metal in the environment. This study is beneficiary especially by the discussion section of Irrigation on the overview of the river status thus able to mitigate a scheme on reducing the metal accumulation into the river by identifying the source of pollution.4.0 Research objectTo ascertain the chemical and mineralogical forms of Pb, Cu, Cd and Zn in selected soil river.To compose the metal speciation (Pb, Cd, Cu, Zn) in the sediment at selected polluted river in Selangor.To settle the heavy metals affinity for specific geochemical phases in the recently deposited sediments in the river.To identify the pollution sources and active component of heavy metals accumulate into the surficial sediment and its chemical behavior in the aquatic environment.5.0 Literature ReviewA river is component of water cycle. Mostly rainfall on land will passes through a river on its way to the ocean and smaller side streams will joins the river forming a tributaries (DID, 2010). In Malaysia, t he water within a river mainly originates from precipitation through surface runoff, groundwater recharge (as seen at base lessen conditions / during periods of lack of precipitation) and release of stored water in natural or synthetic reservoirs, such as wetlands, ponds or lakes (DID, 2010). Therefore, the rainfall will generate the surface runoff and flows into the river. While the runoff will collect all the suspend particulates on the land surface into the river. This is why source of metal is very hard to suggestion since it is a non point sources elements which diffuse into the river Basin. Therefore, in this study sediments play an important role in identication of the metals since it acts as transport and storage of potentially hazardous metals (Yu et al., 2008).Bernam River is approximately ab out(p) 3335 km2 and it forms a boundary in the midst of States of Perak in the north and Selangor in the south. The undulating hills of Bernam River merge into an undeveloped p eat swamp area where the downstream of the peat swamp is a densely be coastal cleared house along the Bernam River. Rice is cultivated in the lower areas ad- jacent to peat swamps and rubber, oil palm, coconuts and umber are cultivated in estates and smallholder schemes. Agrochemicals (fertilizers and herbicides) used on agricultural lands allude a potential non-point source of pollution and toxicity affecting the aquatic eco systems (Yap and Ong, 1990). Logging generates pollution through soil erosion, siltation and sedimentation in the streams. On the other hand, Langat River basin covered an area of 1300 km2 in the south of Kuala Lumpur and the continuance of Langat River is approximately about 120 km long (Sarmani, 1989). Langat river known as an important water source not only limited to supplying water to consumer but also for other purposes such as recreation, fishing, effluent discharge, irrigation and even sand mining (Juahir, 2009). Whereas, Klang River is notable as a highly polluted river in Selangor which flows through Kuala Lumpur and suburban area of the densely populated and highly industrialized Klang Valley (Tan, 1995). The upper reaches of the Klang River serve as an important source of water supply to an estimated population of two million deal in this region, together with its growing industrial activities (Tan, 1995). According to the Environmental role Report (Department of Environment, 2007), the Klang River is regarded as one of the rivers which have been seriously affected by pollution. Discharges of wastewater from industrial activities in the Klang River basin have also contributed to increase levels of organic chemical pollutants in the waterways.However, metals in sediment comes in various forms of elements. Therefore, each metals may give beneficiary and may also cause a potential threat to human. Once consumable in our body it might cause a significant imbalance thus causing deformities and poor health (Birungi et al., 20 08). deposition are an important features in the river any activities occured related to sediment such deepen or mining may cause the release of heavy metals into the river. This is because heavy metals may enter into natural water and become a part of the water sediment system and their distribution processes are controlled by a dynamic set of physical-chemical interactions and rest (Jain, 2003). Therefore, the metals may bind to the aquatic organisms. Since these river is an essential water source in the state of Selangor, any aquaculture activity held in the river may have a significant potential of heavy metals accumulate into the fish or prawns. On the other hand, the deposition of metals in sediments usually occurs through an interaction in the midst of sediment and water (Piron et al., 1990), whereby changes of metal contents of sediments and water depend on changes of water chemistry, such as, temperature, pH and solute concentration. That is why such study is prominent s ince metals interactions surrounded by lie with sediment and water in aquatic environment play an important role on water quality and the fate and transport of metals.There are series of modification of sequential extraction technique have been made upon the suitability of the study. The recent modification are introduce by Silviera et al., 2006 which proposed to the studies specifically on the tropical soil. This method listed out seven fractionation steps which each illustrates the metal bound particulate in the sediments. The first three fractionation steps explains the geochemical condition of the sediment whereas the fourth to the seventh steps refers to the anthropogenic conditions. This method is an alternative way to determine the source of metals, because the anthropogenically sourced metals preferentially partition to the non-residual phase of the sediment dapple the residual phase generally reflects background geochemical conditions (Forghani et al., 2009). Moreover, t his method were chosen since it selectively extracts metal bound by specific sediment fractions with minimal effect on the other sediment components (Silviera et al., 2006). In addition, this method are an important tool for predicting the potential effects of environmental changes and land application of metals on the redistribution of chemical forms in tropical sediments (Silviera et al., 2006).6.0 Research MethodologySediment ingestThirty representative surficial sediments (0-20cm depth) will be taken from selected polluted river in Selangor from upstream to downstream of the river. Surface sediments models will be stash away in triplicates and homogenised in a zip lock polythene bags. The consume will be conducted during low tide to enable the source of pollution from the mainland to be determined without the influence of input from seawater compared to sampling during high tide. Sediment savors will be collected using fictile scoops, Eckman Grab or core sampler and place into acid-washed copy zip-lock polyethylene bag. All samples will be stored in cool box at 4C during transportation to the laboratory prior to analysis.Sampling trainingThe laboratory apparatus are also acid washed and rinsed exhaustively first with distilled water to ensure any contaminants and traces of cleaning reagent were distant forrader the analysis. Pre-clean polycarbonate centrifuge tube with soaked overnight in 5 % (v/v) nitric acid rinsed with distilled water after 24 hours prior to analysis. It is performed in clean laboratory to minimize the potential risk of contamination.Laboratory Analysisphysicochemical parameters such as pH, redox potential, salinity and conductivity will be measured using the 12 ratio of sediment and double deionized water (DDW). In addition, cations exchange capacity (CEC) and loss on fervour (LOI) will also be determined in the study.Physicochemical ParametersThe sediment physicochemical analyses will be determined by mixing 10 g of air dried sample (Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC)Sediment samples for CEC determination will be prepare in two 10 g portions, one for treatment with a 1 M NaCl firmness of purpose and other with a 1 M NH4Cl solution. Approximately about 10 ml of 95% neutral spirits will be carefully poured on sediment sample and drawn through the sediment by suction. The ethanol remain in the sediment will later be removed by overnight evaporation. Then, the sediment will be transferred to small 50 ml Polycarbonate centrifuge tubes. Hence, about 30 ml of 1M NaCl was applied to one set of sub samples and 1 M NH4Cl solution was added to other set. The centrifuge tubes contains with the sediment pre-treated with NaCl and NH4Cl then will be shaken end over end for about 10-20 minutes and subsequently centrifuged at 3000 rpm for 30 minutes in order to settle the tickets. After the samples are centrifuged, the supernatant will be removed with syringe and filter through a 0.45 m filter. About 15 ml of samp le will be used for the analysis of Ca, Mg, and K from the NaCl supernatant solution and maintain with 1% 7M HNO3. Meanwhile, the solution from NH4Cl supernatant will be used for determination of Na and also preserved with 1% 7M HNO3. Sample analysis for Ca, Mg, Na and K adopted similar procedure as in the case of major cations determination.The exchangeable cation concentration are converted from meq/100g to equivalent fractions (T) as (Apello Postma, 2005)T = meqI-Xz_____I, J.. meqI-XzWhere I, J,. are exchangeable cations, meqI-Xi is normally given in meq/100 g dry sediment and meqI-Xz is essential embody to CEC, ignoring minor amounts of Fe, Mn, etc.Loss of Ignition (LOI)Dry a sample in an oven at 105C to constant urget. Accurately weigh 1g of this dried sample and pour into a preweighed dry crucible. Optionally, a few drops of H2O2 may be added at this stage to promote oxidation. The samples will be transfered into muffle furnace and gradually increase the temperature to 50 0C. Leave inside the oven at this temperature for at least 4h or overnight if convenient. Cool, transfer to a dessicator and allow it to cool to room temperature. Weigh and calculate loss on inflaming in % asLOI (%) = 100 x (M1 M2)M1Where M1 is the initial burthen (g) and M2 is the weight after ignition (g).Sequential Extraction ProcedureThe methods that will be used in this study are based on modification methods from (Silviera et al., 2006). The fractionation of heavy metals in sediments will be carried out in triplicate, using 1 g of air-dried sediment. Then, sediment samples will be placed in 50 ml polycarbonate centrifuge tubes, mixed in a stepwise fashion with various reagents as shown in direct 1, and the suspensions equilibrated. By following equilibration, the solution and solid phases will then be separated by centrifugation at 1225 g for 10 min. In between each successive extraction, the solid residues are hang up in 5 ml of 0.1 M NaCl, shaken by hand, and centrifuge d to displace extracting solution remaining from the previous step. The supernatant will be added to the former extractant. The steps are intended to reduce sample dispersion and to minimize read sorption of the metal. The supernatants will be filtered through a 0.45 m membrane, and the solid residues are preserved for the subsequent extractions. The concentrations of Cu, Zn, Pb and Cd in the various extracts will be determined by Inductive Couple Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). Mass balances, figure by summing individual Pb, Cd, Cu and Zn masses recovered from fractions, were compared with the on an individual basis determined total metal masses.Data AnalysisFurther data analysis will be conducted using the raw data obtained from the sample analysis. Descriptive analysis, cluster analysis, factor Analysis will be conducted using few softwares such as SPSS version 17 and Multivariate statistical Package (MVSP) and AQUACHEM. Enrichment factors (EF) will be calculated to determin e the level of trace metal contamination of the sediments.7.0 Project BenefitResearch Publications2 interrogation journal with impact factorOutput expect from the projectIt is expected that several publication can be constituted from the data obtained in this study which useful as a reference for future research.It will provide the latest information on the level of metal pollution in Selangor which useable for relevant authority to make the future provision and focal point purposes.Economic contribution of the projectBy using the information garner in this research, the relevant government bodies can make better planning and take preventive measures to avoid further contamination of the river as it is crucial source for the nation fisheries and aquaculture activity. Moreover, important because a lot of the population which resides nestle the mangrove area depend on it for their livelihood. Since, the destruction or contamination of this area will affect their source of income . The reduction in fisheries produce from the mangrove area due to metal pollution will results in higher imports of fish products which in turn increase the outflow of gold from the country.8.0 ReferencesApello, C.A.J Postma, D. 2005. Geochemistry, groundwater and pollution. 2nd edition. Roterdam Balkema.Birungi, Z., Masola, B., Zaranyika, M. F., Naigaga, I. and Marshall, B. (2008). Active biomonitoring of trace heavy metals using fish (Oreochromis niloticus) as bioindicator speciesthe case of Nakivubo wetland along lake victoria.Chaney, R. L., 2010. Cadmium and Zinc. Trace Element in Soils. Wiley Publication. joined Kingdom.Department of Environment, 2007. DOE Annual Report 2007. Retrieved from http//www.doe.gov.my/files/multimedia141/AR_JAS.pdf on 10 October 2010.DID, 2010. Department of Irrigation. River Management-Activities. 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