Ecological Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals Contamination in Lower Klang River

Abstract

Estuarine and coastal environments are known to be major sinks for heavy metals. This ecosystem and its sustainability should be secured using the ecological as indicators. This study is conducted to quantify the heavy metal concentration and to assess the potential ecological risk levels of heavy metals in the sediments from Klang River Estuary. Three typical heavy metals such as cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn) were identified. The surface sediment samples were collected from three sampling stations. The concentration of heavy metals in the sediments were arrange in a decreasing sequence of Pb > Zn > Cd. A range of pollution indicators based on single pollution indices such as Contamination Factor, Contamination Degree, Pollution Load Index and Geoaccumulation Index were considered for ecological risk analysis. In conclusion, the ecological risk levels of heavy metals in the sediments from Lower Klang River were low and unpolluted. However, an overall assessment regarding to the heavy metals’ concentrations, spatial distribution and their potential sources need to be monitored for a better understanding of the water-sediment interaction.