Lateral distribution, environmental occurrence and assessment of organic pollutants in surface sediments of the West and South Peninsular Malaysia
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2-1-2023
Abstract
Linear alkylbenzenes (LABs) are molecular chemical markers that are used to identify anthropogenic inputs in rivers and coastal ecosystems. Surface sediment samples had collected from the west and south of Peninsular Malaysia to determine the LAB content and distribution. The samples were analyzed, and their sources were determined using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The statistical significance of the variations among sampling stations was examined using the analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Pearson correlation coefficient at p < 0.01. The degrees of LAB degradation and the effectiveness of sewage treatment were assessed using long to short chains L/S, homologs C-13/C-12, and internal to external (I/E) indices. The statistical analysis revealed that the concentration of LABs in the areas under investigation ranged from 67.4 to 255.8 ng g(-1) dw. LAB homologs were significantly different at p < 0.01, and the majority of sampling sites had a large number of C-13-LAB homologs. It was clear that treated effluents from main and secondary sources were released into the study areas since the computed LAB ratios (I/E) ranged from 1.6 to 4.1. In addition, LAB deterioration ranged between 33 and 64% in the regions studied. It is concluded that the wastewater treatment system needs to be upgraded, and there is a strong need to use LAB molecular markers to trace anthropogenic sewage contamination.
Keywords
Industrial, Organic marker, I, E, Contamination, Sediment
Divisions
ocean
Funders
University Malaysia Terengganu (UMT),Inisiatif Putra Berkumpulan Grant from the University of Perak (UPM) (Grant No: 9412401)
Publication Title
Water Air and Soil Pollution
Volume
234
Issue
2
Publisher
Springer International Publishing AG
Publisher Location
GEWERBESTRASSE 11, CHAM, CH-6330, SWITZERLAND