Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

An investigation of arsenic contamination in Peninsular Malaysia based on Centella asiatica and soil samples

  • Published:
Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The first objective of this study was to provide data of arsenic (As) levels in Peninsular Malaysia based on soil samples and accumulation of As in Centella asiatica collected from 12 sampling sites in Peninsular Malaysia. The second objective was to assess the accumulation of As in transplanted C. asiatica between control and semi-polluted or polluted sites. Four sites were selected which were UPM (clean site), Balakong (semi-polluted site), Seri Kembangan (semi-polluted site) and Juru (polluted site). The As concentrations of plant and soil samples were determined by Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis. The As levels ranged from 9.38 to 57.05 μg/g dw in soils, 0.21 to 4.33 μg/g dw in leaves, 0.18 to 1.83 μg/g dw in stems and 1.32–20.76 μg/g dw in roots. All sampling sites had As levels exceeding the CCME guideline (12 μg/g dw) except for Kelantan, P. Pauh, and Senawang with P. Klang having the highest As in soil (57.05 μg/g dw). In C. asiatica, As accumulation was highest in roots followed by leaves and stems. When the As level in soils were higher, the uptake of As in plants would also be increased. After the transplantation of plants to semi-polluted and polluted sites for 3 weeks, all concentration factors were greater than 50 % of the initial As level. The elimination factor was around 39 % when the plants were transplanted back to the clean sites for 3 weeks. The findings of the present study indicated that the leaves, stems and roots of C. asiatica are ideal biomonitors of As contamination. The present data results the most comprehensive data obtained on As levels in Malaysia.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • ATSDR. (2007). Toxicological profile for arsenic. Atlanta: US Department of Health and Human Services, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.

    Google Scholar 

  • Barrachina, A. C., Carbonell, F. B., & Beneyto, J. M. (1995). Arsenic uptake, distribution, and accumulation in tomato plants—effect of arsenite on plant growth and yield. Journal of Plant Nutrition, 18, 1237–1250.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Buat-Menar, P., & Chesselet, R. (1979). Variable influence of the atmospheric flux on the trace metal chemistry of oceanic suspended matter. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 42, 398–411.

    Google Scholar 

  • CCME. (2001). Canadian soil quality guidelines for the protection of environmental and human health: arsenic (inorganic). Winnipeg: Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen, M., Ma, L. Q., & Harries, W. G. (1999). Baseline concentrations of 15 trace elements in Florida surface soils. Journal of Environmental Quality, 28(4), 1173–1181.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Din, Z. B., & Jamaliah, M. R. S. N. (1994). Trace metal pollution in the coastal areas of Penang Island, Malaysia. In D. Watson, S. O. Koh, & G. Viger (Eds.), Advances in Marine Environmental Management and Human Health Protection (pp. 240–245). Singapore ASEAN-Canada Co-operative Programme on Marine Science.

  • Duxbury, J. M., & Zavala, Y. J. (2005). What are safe levels of arsenic in food and soils? In: Behavior of arsenic in aquifers, soils and plants (Conference Proceedings), International Symposium, Dhaka.

  • Environment Agency. (2009). Contaminants in soil: updated collation of toxicological data and intake values for humans. Inorganic arsenic. Science Report SC050021/SR TOX1. Bristol: Environment Agency.

    Google Scholar 

  • Farago, M. E., Kavanagh, P. J., Leite, M. J., Mossom, J., Sawbridge, G., & Thornton, I. (2003). Uptake of arsenic by plants in Southwest England. Biogeochemistry of Environmentally Important Trace Elements, 835, 115–127.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hall, J. L. (2002). Cellular mechanisms for heavy metal detoxification and tolerance. Journal of Experimental Botany, 53, 1–11.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Han, Y., Du, P., Cao, J., & Eric, S. P. (2006). Multivariate analysis of heavy metal contamination in urban dusts of Xi’an, Central China. Science of the Total Environment, 355, 176–186.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hartley-Whitaker, J., Ainsworth, G., & Meharg, A. A. (2001). Copper and arsenate induced oxidative stress in Holcus lanatus L. clones with differential sensitivity. Plant, Cell & Environment, 24, 713–722.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hassan, A. M. (2008). Modern Trends in Neutron Activation Analysis: Applications to some African environmental samples. Proceedings of the 3rd Environmental Physics Conference, 19–23 Feb. 2008. Aswan, Egypt.

  • Hedouin, L., Pringault, L., Bustamante, P., Fichez, R., & Warnau, M. (2011). Validation of two tropical marine bivalves as bioindicators of mining contamination in the New Caledonia lagoon: field transplantation experiments. Water Research, 45, 483–496.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • IAEA-TECDOC-1215. ( 2001). Use of research reactors for neutron activation analysis. IAEA, Vienna.

  • IAEA-TECDOC-1360. (2003). Collection and preparation of bottom sediment samples for analysis of radionuclides and trace elements. IAEA, Vienna.

  • IPCS. (2001). Arsenic and arsenic compounds, 2nd ed. Environmental Health Criteria 224. Geneva: WHO, International Programme on Chemical Safety.

  • Kabata-Pendias, A., & Mukherjee, A. B. (2007). Trace elements from soil to human. Berlin: Springer.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Kassem, A., Sarheel, A., & Al-Somel, N. (2004). Determination of trace elements in soil and plants in the Orontes basin of Syria by using instrumental neutron activation analysis. Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, 262(3), 555–561.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kato, M., Onuma, S., Kato, Y., Thang, N. D., Yajima, I., Hoque, M. Z., et al. (2010). Toxic elements in well water from Malaysia. Toxicological and Environmental Chemistry, 92(9), 1609–1612.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lee, C. K., Low, K. S., & Hew, N. S. (1991). Accumulation of arsenic by aquatic plants. Science of the Total Evironment, 103, 215–227.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Macnair, M. R., & Cumbes, Q. (1987). Evidence that arsenic tolerance in Holcus lanatus L. is caused by an altered phosphate uptake system. New Phytologist, 107, 387–394.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Matini, L., Ongoka, P. R., & Tathy, J. P. (2001). Heavy metals in soil on spoil heap of an abandoned lead ore treatment plant, SE Congo-Brazzaville. African Journal of Environmental Science and Technology, 5(2), 89–97.

    Google Scholar 

  • Meharg, A. A., & Macnair, M. R. (1991). The mechanisms of arsenate tolerance in Deschampsia cespitosa (L.) Beauv and Agrostis capillaris L. New Phytologist, 119, 291–297.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Müller, G. (1981). Die Schwermetallbelastung der sedimente des Neckars und seiner Neben.usse: eine Bestandsaufnahme. Chemical Zeitung, 105, 157–164.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nael, M., Khademi, H., Jalalian, A., Schulin, R., Kalbasi, M., & Sotohian, F. (2009). Effect of geo-pedological conditions on the distribution and chemical speciation of selected trace elements in forest soils of western Alborz, Iran. Geoderma, 152(1–2), 157–170.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Navarro-Avino, J. (2003). A plant genetically modified that accumulates Pb is especially promising for phytoremediation. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, 303, 440–445.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • O’Neil, P. (1995). Mercury. In B. J. Alloway (Ed.), Heavy metals in soils (2nd ed.). London: Blackie.

    Google Scholar 

  • Paliouris, G., & Hutchinson, T. C. (1991). Arsenic, cobalt and nickel tolerances in two populations of Silene vulgaris (Moench) Garcke from Ontario, Canada. New Phytologist, 117, 449–459.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Parry, S. J. (1991). Activation spectrometry in chemical analysis. NY: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pendias, A. K., & Pendias, H. (1985). Trace elements in soils and plants. NY: CRC.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rainbow, P. S., & Phillips, D. J. H. (1993). Cosmopolitan biomonitors of trace metals. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 26, 593–601.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ramachandran, S. D. (1997). Toxicity associated with sediments from Malaysia estuarine environment. Memorial University of Newfoundland.

  • Sanok, W. J., Ebel, J. G., Manzell, K. L., Gutenmann, W. H., & Lisk, D. J. (1995). Residues of arsenic and lead in potato soils on Long Island. Chemosphere, 30(4), 803–806.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schütz, L., & Rahn, K. A. (1982). Trace-element concentrations in erodible soils. Atmospheric Environment, 16, 171–176.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sgherri, C., Cosi, E., & Navari-Izzo, F. (2003). Phenols and antioxidative status of Raphanus sativus grown in copper excess. Physiologia Plantarium, 118, 21–28.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Singh, S., & Sinha, S. (2005). Accumulation of metals and its effects in Brassica Juncea (L.) Czern. (cv. Rohini) grown on various amendments of tannery waste. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, 62, 118–127.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Soares, C. R. F. S., Accioly, A. M. A., Marques, T. C. L. L. S. M., Siqueira, J. O., & Moreira, F. M. S. (2001). Content and distribution of heavy metals in roots, stems and leaves of tree seedlings in soil contaminated by zinc industry wastes. Revista Brasileira de Fisiologia Vegetal, 13, 302–315.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tang, Y. T., Qiu, R. L., Zheng, X. W., Ying, R. R., Yu, F. M., & Zhou, Z. Y. (2009). Lead, zinc, cadmium hyperaccumulation and growth stimulation in Arabis paniculata Franch. Environmental and Experimental Botany, 66, 126–134.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Taylor, S. R. (1964). Abundances of chemicals elements in the continental crust: a new table. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 28(8), 1273–1285.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • U.S.EPA. (1996). Ecological effects test guidelines (Public draft). Washington, DC: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, EPA 712-C-96-163.

  • U.S.EPA. (2001). Methods for collection, storage and manipulation of sediments for chemical and toxicology. Washington, DC: Office of Water, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, EPA-823-B-01-002.

  • U.S.EPA. (2007). Inventory of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions and sinks: 1990–2005. Washington, DC: U.S Environmental Protection Agency.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wedepohl, K. H. (1995). The composition of the continental crust. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 59, 1217–1232.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wittig, R. (1993). General aspects of biomonitoring heavy metals by plants. In B. Markert (Ed.), Plants as biomonitors: indicators for heavy metals in the terrestrial environment (pp. 3–28). Weinheim: VCH.

    Google Scholar 

  • Xue, S. W., Yong, Q., & Shu, X. S. (2005). Accumulation and sources of heavy metals in urban topsoils: a case study from the city of Xuzhou, China. Environmental Geology, 48, 101–107.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yap, C. K., & Pang, B. H. (2011). Assessment of Cu, Pb, and Zn contamination in sediment of north western Peninsular Malaysia by using sediment quality values and different geochemical indices. Environmental Monitoring and Assessments, 183, 23–39.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yap, C. K., Ismail, A., Omar, H., & Tan, S. G. (2003). Accumulation, depuration and distribution of cadmium and zinc in the green-lipped mussel Perna viridis (Linnaeus) under laboratory condition. Hydrobiologia, 498, 151–160.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zainol, M. K., Hamid, A. A., Yusof, S., & Muse, S. (2003). Antioxidant activity and total phenolic compounds of leaf, roots and petiotle of four accessions of Centella asiatica (L.) Urban. Food Chemistry, 67, 456–466.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors wish to acknowledge the financial support provided through the Research University Grant Scheme (RUGS) [vote no. 9322400] by Universiti Putra Malaysia.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia UPM, 43400, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia

    G. H. Ong & C. K. Yap

  2. Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia UPM, 43400, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia

    M. Maziah

  3. Pusat Nuklear Negara, Bangi, 4300, Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia

    H. Suhaimi

  4. Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia UPM, 43400, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia

    S. G. Tan

Authors
  1. G. H. Ong
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. C. K. Yap
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. M. Maziah
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. H. Suhaimi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. S. G. Tan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to C. K. Yap.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Ong, G.H., Yap, C.K., Maziah, M. et al. An investigation of arsenic contamination in Peninsular Malaysia based on Centella asiatica and soil samples. Environ Monit Assess 185, 3243–3254 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-012-2787-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-012-2787-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation