Study of Heavy Metal in the Sediments Along Kay Marine Shipyard

O.O. Sulaman, A.S.A.Kader, A.H. Saharuddin and W.B.WanNik

Faculty of Maritime Studies and Marine Science, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu.

DOI : http://dx.doi.org/http://dx.doi.org/10.13005/bbra/1038

ABSTRACT:

Historically contaminated sediments are in the shallow sub-surface zone where erosion or dredging activities may take place. Trace metals play an important role in the natural biological life cycles. Their levels help to define the behavior and well-being of individual biological systems and can establish the overall character of a water system. Understanding of this role involves appreciation of the mechanisms of transformation of those trace metals in the system. These considerations relate to both the metals that are essential to biological functions and the metals that may be inhibitory to organisms in the aquatic system. The metal concentrations in surface sediments and level of contaminated sediments were determined in sediment cores collected at three sampling sites along Kuala Terengganu River nearby Kay Marine Sdn. Bhd. The totaldensity ofmetalsin thesedimentsurfaceis examined,there is a riskof onemetal level that was Iron; Feexceedsthe standard that was ranged from 5mg/l–8mg/lissued according to theDepartment of EnvironmentMalaysia.The study suggests that regulatory authorities should examine vertical metal profiles, particularly in estuaries that usually experience low sediment accumulation rates. Biologicaltransformations may convert inorganic metal forms to organic compounds of much greater toxicities.Depending upon the environment the sediment particle size distribution may range from very small colloidal particles (of < 0.1um in diameter) to large sand and gravel particles several millimeters in diameter. There is a small variation between the mobility of particulate in river waters and seawater.

KEYWORDS: Sediments; Vertical metal profiles; Environmental risk; Heavy metal; Dredging

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