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Trace metals geochemistry for health assessment coupled with adsorption remediation method for the groundwater of Lorong Serai 4, Hulu Langat, west coast of Peninsular Malaysia

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Abstract

The research study was carried out to evaluate trace metals (Pb, Cd, Se, Al, Mn, Cu, Zn, Fe, As, Ni, Cr, and Ag) concentrations in groundwater of Lorong Serai 4, Hulu Langat, Selangor, Malaysia. Additionally, the research study focused on determining non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic health risks, sources of the contaminants, and effective remediation methods. The results show that the concentration levels of Pb, Cd, Se, Al, Cu, Zn, Ni, Cr, and Ag are lower than their corresponding permissible limits, while Fe, Mn, and As concentrations exceed their acceptable limit. The hazard index of the groundwater in the area exceeded the acceptable limit, showing the rate of carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic health effects associated with the water. The findings also indicate that the lifetime cancer risk is high compared to the maximum limits of lifetime cancer risk from the drinking water (10–6 to 10–4). The groundwater geochemical data of the area are used in establishing the source of Fe, Mn, and As metal ions. Evaluation of Fe2+/Fe3+ and S2−/SO42− redox couples and thermodynamic modelling indicates that the groundwater of the area is in redox disequilibrium. The groundwater samples contain aqueous iron sulphate, which is supersaturated, ferrous carbonate and aluminium sulphate that are saturated. The main state of redox disequilibrium is governed by mineral precipitation and dissolution. Aqueous arsenic and manganese are possibly derived from the dissolution of pyrite (arsenopyrite) and amorphous oxide-hydroxides, respectively. The high concentration of iron in the shallow groundwater in the area is primarily the result of silicate rock weathering of ferroan igneous and metamorphic minerals with a minor contribution from the oxidation of iron sulphides. Magnetite coated with graphene oxide (Fe3O4-GO) nanoparticles (NPs) was synthesized and characterized, and the adsorption preliminary experiments were carried out; and the Fe3O4-GO NPs show enhanced removal (Fe > As > Mn) capacity over graphene oxide (GO).

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Acknowledgements

We would like to express our gratitude to Nursyahira Binti Ismail of the Hydrogeological laboratory, Department of Geology, University of Malaya, for her support during field sampling and laboratory analysis. We also thank and are grateful to Mr Mutari Lawal of the Geology Department, Usman Danfodiyo University Sokoto, Nigeria, for his contribution in digitizing geological map of the study area and University Malaya Faculty Research Grant (GPF058B-2018) for providing fund for characterization of the materials.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geology, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

    Usman Abdullahi Usman & Ismail Yusoff

  2. Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

    Muggundha Raoov

  3. Spring, TX, USA

    Jonathan Hodgkinson

  4. School of Natural Resource Science, Queensland University of Technology, GPO Box 2434, Brisbane, QLD, 4001, Australia

    Jonathan Hodgkinson

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  1. Usman Abdullahi Usman
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Correspondence to Usman Abdullahi Usman or Ismail Yusoff.

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Jonathan Hodgkinson was formerly at School of Natural Resource Science, Queensland University of Technology, GPO Box 2434, Brisbane, QLD 4001, Australia.

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Usman, U.A., Yusoff, I., Raoov, M. et al. Trace metals geochemistry for health assessment coupled with adsorption remediation method for the groundwater of Lorong Serai 4, Hulu Langat, west coast of Peninsular Malaysia. Environ Geochem Health 42, 3079–3099 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-020-00543-0

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