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Spatial distribution and source apportionment of heavy metals in soils of Gebeng industrial city, Malaysia

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Abstract

Heavy metal concentrations were examined in 30 soil samples from Gebeng industrial city, Malaysia using inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry for As, Ba, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn, and direct mercury analyzer (DMA-80) for Hg. Multivariate statistical techniques including hierarchical cluster analysis (CA), principal component analysis (PCA), correlation analysis and analysis of variance were used to identify the spatial distribution and potential sources of heavy metals. The mean concentrations of heavy metals in the soil samples are in decreasing order as follows: Co > Ba > Zn > As > Pb > Cr > Cu > Ni > Hg > Cd. The Gebeng soils are characterized by high mean relative concentration of As, Ba, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb and Zn in the industrial zone (IZ) than the Kampung-Balok residential area (KB) and submerged area (SA), indicating inputs from industrial activities. Geochemical results suggested that Gebeng soils are primarily polluted by As, Co, Hg, Pb, and Cu subsequently derived from anthropogenic sources. PCA and CA in the heavy metals indicate both anthropogenic and natural origin. However, the geoaccumulation index and pollution load index further confirm the high contamination levels of the heavy metals in IZ and low to uncontaminated in KB and SA regions.

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Acknowledgments

This study was financially supported by Faculty of Civil Engineering and Earth Resources, University Malaysia Pahang of Malaysia (RDU 110354 and GRS 120363). We would like to thank Prof. J.W. Lamoreaux Editor-in-Chief and two anonymous reviewers for providing thoughtful comments on an early draft of the manuscript and G.M.A. Ali for assisting in correcting the English grammatical errors. We would also like to thank Dr. M.T. Ahmed for preparing figures.

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  1. Faculty of Civil Engineering and Earth Resources, University Malaysia Pahang, 26300, Gambang, Pahang, Malaysia

    Mohammed Amjed Hossain, Nasly M. Ali & Mir Sujaul Islam

  2. Department of Petroleum and Mining Engineering, Jessore University of Science and Technology, Jessore, 7408, Bangladesh

    H. M. Zakir Hossain

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  1. Mohammed Amjed Hossain
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  2. Nasly M. Ali
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Correspondence to H. M. Zakir Hossain.

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Hossain, M.A., Ali, N.M., Islam, M.S. et al. Spatial distribution and source apportionment of heavy metals in soils of Gebeng industrial city, Malaysia. Environ Earth Sci 73, 115–126 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-014-3398-z

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