Abstract
Quantitative indices are classically employed to evaluate the contamination status of metals with reference to the baseline concentrations. The baselines vary considerably across different geographical zones. It is imperative to determine the local geochemical baseline to evaluate the contamination status. No study has been done to establish the background concentrations in tropical rivers of this region. This paper reports the background concentrations of metals in water and sediment of the Baleh River, Sarawak, derived based on the statistical methods where the areas possibly disturbed are distinguished from the undisturbed area. The baseline levels of six elements in water determined were Al (0.34 mg/L), Fe (0.51 mg/L), Mn (0.12 mg/L), Cu (0.01 mg/L), Pb (0.03 mg/L), and Zn (0.05 mg/L). Arsenic and selenium were below the detection limit. For sediment, the background values were established according to statistical methods including (mean + 2σ), iterative 2σ, cumulative distribution frequency, interquartile, and calculation distribution function. The background values derived using the iterative 2σ algorithm and calculated distribution function were relatively lower. The baseline levels calculated were within the range reported in the literatures mainly from tropical and sub-tropical regions. The upper limits proposed for nine elements in sediment were Al (100,879 mg/kg), Cr (75.45 mg/kg), Cu (34.59 mg/kg), Fe (37,823 mg/kg), Mn (793 mg/kg), Ni (22.88 mg/kg), Pb (27.26 mg/kg), Zn (70.64 mg/kg), and Hg (0.33 mg/kg). Quantitative indices calculated suggest low risk of contamination at the Baleh River.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Alagarsamy, R., & Zhang, J. (2005). Comparative studies on trace metal geochemistry in Indian and Chinese rivers. Current Science, 89(2), 299–309.
Aloupi, M., & Angelidis, M. O. (2001). Geochemistry of natural and anthropogenic metals in the coastal sediments of the island of Lesvos, Aegean Sea. Environmental Pollution, 113(2), 211–219.
APHA (1998). Standard methods for the examination of water and waste water (20th ed.). D.C. Washington: American Public Health Association.
Aprile, F. M., & Bouvy, M. (2010). Heavy metals in surface waters from a tropical river basin, Pernambuco state, northeastern Brazil. Acta Scientiarum. Biological Sciences, 32(4), 357–364.
Borg, H., & Johanson, K. (1989). Metal fluxes to Swedish forest lake. Water, Air and Soil Pollution, 47(3), 427–440.
Boulton, A. J., Boyero, L., Covich, A. P., Dobson, M., Lake, S., & Pearson, R. (2008). Are tropical streams ecologically different from temperate streams. In D. Dudgeon (Ed.), Tropical stream ecology (pp. 257–284). Amsterdam: Academic.
Cardoso, A. G. A., Boaventura, G. R., Silva, E. V., & Brod, J. A. (2001). Metal distribution in sediments from the Ribeira Bay, Rio de Janeiro. Brazil. Journal of Brazilian Chemical Society, 12(6), 767–774.
Crommentuijn, T., Sijim, D., de Bruijn, J., van den Hoop, M., van Leeuwen, K., van de Plassche, E. (2000). Maximum permissible and negligible concentrations for metals and metalloids in the Netherlands, taking into account background concentrations. Journal of Environmental Management, 60(2), 121–143.
Cussen, D. I., & Hensman, C. E. (2011). Determination of mercury and other trace metals in hydrocarbon using the Anton-Paar high pressure Asher (HPA). Seattle: Frontier Geosciences Inc. (FGI).
Datta, D. K., & Subramanian, V. (1998). Distribution and fraction of heavy metals in the surface sediments of the Ganges River basin. Journal of the Geological Society of India, 48(1), 271–279.
Davaulter, V., & Rognerud, S. (2001). Heavy metal pollution in sediments of the Pasvik River drainage. Chemosphere, 42(1), 9–18.
De Lima Rodrigues, A. S., Malafaia, G., Costa, A. T., & Junior, H. A. N. (2013). Background values for chemical elements in sediments of the Gualazo do Norte river basin, MG, Brazil. Revista de Ciencias Ambientais, 7(2), 15–32.
Desaules, A. (2012). Critical evaluation of soil contamination assessment methods for trace metals. Science of the Total Environment, 426(1), 120–131.
Dung, T. T. T., Cappuyns, V., Swennen, R., & Phung, N. K. (2013). From geochemical background determination to pollution assessment of heavy metals in sediments and soils. Reviews in Science and Biotechnology, 12(4), 335–353.
Galuszka, A. (2007). A review of geochemical background concepts and an example using data from Poland. Environmental Geology, 52(5), 861–871.
Greif, A. & Klemm, W. (2010). Geogene Hintergrundbelastungen. Schriftenreihe, Heft 10/2010 (in German).
Guan, Q., Wang, L., Pan, B., Guan, W., Sun, X., & Cai, A. (2016). Distribution features and controls of heavy metals in surface sediments from the riverbed of the Ningxia-inner Mongolian reaches, Yellow River, China. Chemosphere, 144, 29–42.
Hasan, S. J., Tanu, M. B., Haidar, M. I., Ahmed, T., & Rubel, A. K. A. (2015). Physico-chemical characteristics and accumulation of heavy metals in water and sediments of the river Dakatia, Bangladesh. International Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Studies, 2(5), 300–304.
Haydar, C. M., Nehma, N., Awad, S., Koubaissy, B., Fakih, M., Yaacoub, A., Toufaily, J., Villeras, F., & Hamieh, T. (2014). Assessing contamination level of heavy metals in the lake of Qaraaoun, Lebanon. Physics Procedia, 55, 285–290.
Hortellani, M. A., Sarkis, J. E. S., Menezzes, L. C. B., Bazante-Yamaguishi, R., Pereira, A. S. A., Garcia, P. F. G., Maruyama, L. S., & Genova de Castro, P. M. (2013). Assessment of metal concentration in the billings reservoir sediments, Sao Paulo state, southeastern Brazil. Journal of Brazilian Chemical Society, 24(1), 58–67.
Hu, Y., Liu, X., Bai, J., Shih, K., Zeng, E. Y., & Cheng, H. (2013). Assessing heavy metal pollution in the surface soils of a region that had undergone three decades of intense industrialization and urbanization. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 20(9), 6150–6159.
Jha, P. K., Subramanian, V., Sitasawad, R., & Van Grieken, R. (1990). Heavy metals in sediments of the Yamuna River (a tributary of the Ganges. Science of the Total Environment, 95(6), 7–27.
Li, B., Wan, G. J., Jiang, C. Z., & Zeng, S. G. (1995). Concentration levels, change records and enrichment pattern of heavy metals in waters and sediments in both lake Dianchi and lake Erhai, Yunnan Province. Environmental Sciences, 16(2), 50–52.
Luiz-Silva, W., Matos, R. H. R., Kristosch, G. C., & Machado, W. (2006). Spatial and seasonal variability of trace-element concentrations in sediments from the Santos-Cubatão estuarine system, São Paulo, Brazil. Quim Nova, 29(2), 256.
Mali, M., Dell’Anna, M. M., Mastrorilli, P., Daminani, L., Ungaro, N., Belviso, C., & Fiore, S. (2015). Are conventional statistical techniques exhaustive for defining metal background concentrations in harbor sediments? A case study: the coastal area of Bari (Southeast Italy. Chemosphere, 138, 708–717.
Martin, J., & Meybeck, M. (1979). Elemental mass-balance of material carried by major world rivers. Marine Chemistry, 7(3), 178–206.
Matschullat, J., Ottenstein, R., & Reimann, C. (2000). Geochemical background—can we calculate it? Environmental Geology, 39(9), 990–1000.
Meybeck, M. (1991). Rivers and global elemental cycles. Current Content, 24, 10.
Müller, G. (1979). Schwermetalle in den sediment des Rheins, Veranderungem Seit 1971. Umschau, 79, 778–783.
Nakic, Z., Posavec, K., & Bacani, A. (2007). A visual basic spreadsheet macro for geochemical background analysis. Groundwater, 45(5), 642–647.
O’Hanlon, R. (1984). Into the heart of Borneo. New York: Vintage Books.
Oste, L., Zwolsman, G. J. & Klein, J. (2011). Inventory and evaluation of methods to derive natural background concentrations of trace metals in surface water, and application of two methods in a case study. Deltares report 1206111.005, Utrecht.
Parkman, H. (2007). Critical review of metals environmental risk assessment guidance for metals (MERAG). Copenhagen: TemaNord, Nordic Council of Ministers.
Qi, S., Leipe, T., Ruekert, P., Di, Z., & Harff, J. (2010). Geochemical sources, deposition and enrichment of heavy metals in short sediment cores from the Pearl River estuary, southern China. Journal of Marine System, 82(Supplement), S28–S42.
Reimann, C., & Garrett, R. G. (2005). Geochemical background. Concept and reality. Science of the Total Environment, 350(1–3), 12–27.
Roulet, M., Lucotte, M., Farella, N., Serique, G., Coelho, H., Passos, C. J. S., da Silva, E. D., de Andrade, P. S., Mergler, D., Guimaraes, J. R. D., & Amorim, M. (1999). Effects of recent human colonization on the presence of mercury in Amazonian ecosystems. Water, Air and Soil Pollution, 112(3), 297–313.
Sarin, M. M., Borole, D. V., & Krishnaswami, S. (1979). Geochemistry and geochronology of sediments from bay of Bengal and equatorial Indian oceans. Proceeding of Indian academy. Science, 10(24), 131–154.
Sibon, P. (2010). Logjam a man-made disaster. Borneo Post Online. Retrieved from http://www.apastyle.org/learn/faqs/cite-newspaper.aspx.
Singh, M., Muller, G., & Singh, I. B. (2003). Geogenic distribution and baseline concentration of heavy metals in sediments of the Ganges River, India. Journal of Geochemical Exploration, 80(1), 1–17.
Subramanian, V., Sitasawad, R., Abbas, N., & Jha, P. K. (1987). Environmental geology of the Ganga River basin. Journal of the Geological Society of India, 30(5), 335–355.
Tukey, J. W. (1977). Exploratory data analysis reading. Massachusetts: Addision-Wessley Publishing.
Turekian, K. K. (1969). The oceans, streams and atmosphere. Berlin: Springer.
Turekian, K. K., & Wedepohl, K. H. (1961). Distributions of the elements in some major units of the Earth’s crust. Geological Society of America Bulletin, 72(2), 175–192.
Vaithiynathan, P., Ramanathan, A. L., Subramanian, V. (1993). Transport and distribution of heavy metals in Cauvery River. Water Air Soil Pollution, 71, 13–28.
Vowotor, M. K., Hood, C. O., Sackey, S. S., Owusu, A., Tatchie, E., Nyarko, S., Osei, D. M., Mireku, K. K., Letsa, C. B., & Atiemo, S. M. (2014). An assessment of heavy metal pollution in sediments of a tropical lagoon: a case study of the Benya lagoon, Komenda Edina Eguafo Abrem municipality—Ghana. Journal of Health and Pollution, 4(6), 26–39.
Wei, C., & Wen, H. (2012). Geochemical baselines of heavy metals in the sediments of two large freshwater lakes in China: implications for contamination character and history. Environmental Geochemistry and Health, 34(6), 737–748.
Woitke, P., Wellmitz, J., Helm, D., Kube, P., Lepom, P., & Literaty, P. (2003). Analysis and assessment of heavy metal pollution in suspended solids and sediments of the river Danube. Chemosphere, 51(8), 633–642.
Zhang, J., & Liu, C. L. (2002). Riverine composition and estuarine geochemistry of particulate metals in China—weathering features, anthropogenic impact and chemical fluxes. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 54(6), 1051–1070.
Zhu, G. W., Qin, B. Q., & Gao, G. (2005). Accumulation characteristics of heavy metals in the sediments of lake Taihu, China. Journal of Lake Sciences, 17(2), 143–150.
Acknowledgments
The authors would like to thank the Sarawak Energy Berhad for funding this project (GL(F07)/SEB/1D/2013(15)).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Sim, S.F., Chai, H.P., Nyanti, L. et al. Baseline trace metals in water and sediment of the Baleh River—a tropical river in Sarawak, Malaysia. Environ Monit Assess 188, 537 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-016-5553-3
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-016-5553-3