Trace metal sources in two Malaysian estuaries

Conference · Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1985 · Geol. Soc. Am., Abstr. Programs; (United States)

OSTI ID:6458664

Nelson, B W; Kahn, I S.A.

The natural background concentrations of trace metals associated with suspended sediments in the non-urbanized upper reaches of the Kelang, Selangor, and Linggi rivers (West Malaysia) have been determined. These watersheds are underlain by weathered granite and covered, generally, by tropical jungle. The mean trace metal concentrations of the sediments in ..mu..-g/g are: Mn, 396; Zn, 92; Pb, 74; Cu, 24; Cr, 37; Ni, 21, and V, 45. These values are low compared to those reported from river sediments in North American and Europe. The spectra of trace metal abundances of the suspended sediments are very similar to the spectrum of source area granites. Thus, the granites impose a strong provenance control, in spite of intense weathering processes that have converted primary minerals to clay. Suspended sediments in the non-urbanized Selangor estuary have the same trace metal concentrations as above and exhibit no effects due to human activities. Suspended sediments in the Kelange estuary show Cu, Zn, and Pb concentrations of nearly three times the natural background levels and comparable to values reported from river sediments in North America and Europe. This estuary receives inputs from the urbanized area of Kuala Lumpur and the industrialized lower Kelang valley. Pb concentrations in the estuary are higher than for many northern hemisphere rivers. Furthermore, its concentration in the tributary sediments is higher than in the source area granites. This suggests airborne dispersal of Pb from the urban source and concentration in the suspended sediments.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Virginia, Charlottesville (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6458664
• Report Number(s): CONF-8510489-
• Journal Information: Geol. Soc. Am., Abstr. Programs; (United States), Vol. 17; Conference: 98. annual meeting of the Geological Society of America, Orlando, FL, USA, 28 Oct 1985
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

58 GEOSCIENCES
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ESTUARIES
SEDIMENTS
WATER CHEMISTRY
WATER POLLUTION
MALAYSIA
GEOCHEMISTRY
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
GRANITES
METALS
TRACE AMOUNTS
WEATHERING
ASIA
CHEMISTRY
ELEMENTS
IGNEOUS ROCKS
PLUTONIC ROCKS
POLLUTION
ROCKS
SURFACE WATERS
580400* - Geochemistry- (-1989)
520200 - Environment
Aquatic- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)