Metal concentrations in sediments from tourist beaches of Miri City, Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo Island)

R. Nagarajan and M. P. Jonathan and Roy, Priyadarsi and Wai-Hwa, L and M.V. Prasanna and Sarkar, S.K. and Navarrete-Lopez, M. 2013. Metal concentrations in sediments from tourist beaches of Miri City, Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo Island). Marine Pollution Bulletin. 73 (1): pp. 369-373.

Source Title

Marine Pollution Bulletin

DOI

10.1016/j.marpolbul.2013.05.036

ISSN

0025326X

Remarks

NOTICE: this is the author’s version of a work that was accepted for publication in Marine Pollution Bulletin. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published in Marine Pollution Bulletin, Vol. 73, No. 1 (2013). DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2013.05.036

URI

http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/42579

Collection

Curtin Research Publications

Abstract

Forty-three sediment samples were collected from the beaches of Miri City, Sarawak, Malaysia to identify the enrichment of partially leached trace metals (PLTMs) from six different tourist beaches. The samples were analyzed for PLTMs Fe, Mn, Cr, Co, Cu, Ni, Pb, Sr and Zn. The concentration pattern suggest that the southern side of the study area is enriched with Fe (1821–6097 μg g−1), Mn (11.57–90.22 μg g−1), Cr (51.50–311 μg g−1), Ni (18–51 μg g−1), Pb (8.81–84.05 μg g−1), Sr (25.95–140.49 μg g−1) and Zn (12.46–35.04 μg g−1). Compared to the eco-toxicological values, Cr > Effects range low (ERL), Lowest effect level (LEL), Severe effect level (SEL); Cu > Unpolluted sediments, ERL, LEL; Pb > Unpolluted sediments and Ni > ERL and LEL. Comparative results with other regions indicate that Co, Cr, Cu, Ni and Zn are higher, indicating an external input rather than natural process.