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Environmental occurrence and assessment of organic pollutants in surface sediments of South Peninsular Malaysia

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Abstract

Organic pollution continues to be an important worldwide obstacle for tackling health and environmental concerns that require ongoing and prompt response. To identify the LAB content levels as molecular indicators for sewage pollution, surface sediments had obtained from the South region of Malaysia. The origins of the LABs were identified using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). ANOVA and a Pearson correlation coefficient at p < 0.05 were used in the statistical analyses of the differences between the research locations. Internal to external (I/E) ratio, homologs C13/C12, and long to short (L/S) chains are used to identify the effectiveness of wastewater treatments. According to statistical analysis, the range of LAB level at the stations was 67.4 to 188.7 ng g−1dw. A significant difference was observed between LAB homologs (p < 0.05), with a higher level of C13 in most of the stations. The computed LAB ratio (I/E), which varied from 1.6 to 2.7, revealed the released wastewater from primary and secondary sources. LAB degradation varied between 33 and 49% in the areas that were evaluated. The treatment system of wastewater requires to be further improved, and using LAB markers to track anthropogenic contamination is imperative.

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Data availability

The Metadata used to support the findings of this study have been deposited in the University 301 Putra Malaysia repository at http://upm.edu.my/

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Acknowledgements

The funding for the study was provided by Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) and UNITEN for BOLD Refresh Postdoctoral Fellowships through project code J510050002-IC-6 BOLDREFRESH2025-Center of Excellence. The Inisiatif Putra Berkumpulan Grant from the University of Perak (UPM) is funding this study (9412401). The authors also extend their appreciation to the Deputyship for Research and Innovation, ‘Ministry of Education’ in Saudi Arabia for funding this research (IFKSUOR3-416-2).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Energy Infrastructure (IEI), Universiti Tenaga Nasional (UNITEN), 43000, Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia

    Sadeq Abdullah Abdo Alkhadher & Lariyah Mohd Sidek

  2. Institute of Ocean and Earth Sciences (IOES), University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

    Mohamad Pauzi Zakaria

  3. Department of Animal Production, College of Food and Agriculture Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

    Maged A. AL-Garadi

  4. Institute of Oceanography and Environment, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030, Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia

    Suhaimi Suratman

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  1. Sadeq Abdullah Abdo Alkhadher
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Sadeq Abdullah Abdo Alkhadher had contributed to the study conception and design. Material preparation, data collection and analysis . The data was interpreted, sources and supervised by Suhaimi Suratman and Mohamad Pauzi Zakaria

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Correspondence to Sadeq Abdullah Abdo Alkhadher.

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Alkhadher, S.A.A., Sidek, L.M., Zakaria, M.P. et al. Environmental occurrence and assessment of organic pollutants in surface sediments of South Peninsular Malaysia. Environ Geochem Health 46, 140 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-024-01916-5

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