Spatial Distribution of Heavy Metals in Tropical Coastal Sediment of the Northern Malacca Strait, Malaysia

Spatial distribution of eight heavy metals (Al, Fe, Mn, Zn, Pb, Cu, Co, Cd) in surface sediments of northern Malacca Strait were investigated. Samples were taken from 18 stations in June, 2013. The concentrations of metals ranged between 1.70-5.75% (Al), 1.13-3.19% (Fe), 117.53-323.19 µg/g (Mn), 30.14-79.42 µg/g (Zn), 8.88-29.28 µg/g (Pb), 3.51-16.58 µg/g (Cu), 2.16-5.93 µg/g (Co) and 0.00-0.50 µg/g (Cd). The mean concentrations of the studied metals were in decreasing order as follows: Al > Fe > Mn> Zn > Pb > Cu > Co > Cd. Higher concentrations were found in the nearshore area of Kuala Kedah, Kuala Perlis and Langkawi Island. Pearson correlation explicates that most metals are predominantly from the assortment sources. Based on the enrichment factor value, all metals, except Pb, fall in the category of deficiency to minimal enrichment. Geoaccumulation index and pollution load index revealed that this area was not polluted with the studied metals. This work is vital to disclose the status of heavy metal sink to surficial sediment, thus any changes in concentration are easily monitored and appropriately managed.