DETERMINATION OF ARSENIC TEMPORAL ENRICHMENT IN JURU RIVER'S CORES SEDIMENT USING NUCLEAR ANALYTICAL TECHNIQUES

Abstract

Perai Industrial Area is one of the densest industrial and heavily populated zones in Malaysia. Land pollutants from human activities potentially be released into nearby water resources. Of concern arsenic concentration levels in sediments were investigated in the nearby Juru River. Using KC™ Kajak corer, one sediment core was collected at the river estuary and another one within the river, about 2-3 km away from the estuary. Arsenic concentrations were measured using Neutron Activation Analysis (NAA) technique; whereas the sediment deposition rates were determined through Lead-210 dating, performed using a Gamma-ray Spectrometry System. The enrichment factor for arsenic in the river was calculated using continental crust values and iron concentration as the normalisation metal. The results (9.7 – 25.9 (average 15.7) µg/g, within river; 10.2 – 24.0 (average 14.5) µg/g, estuary) indicated significant enrichment of arsenic in the study area, and the sedimentation rates (0.94±0.11 cm/y, within river; 2.70±0.68 cm/y, estuary) suggested rapid deposition of contaminants.