Magnetic Signatures on River Sediments and Agricultural Soils as Proxy Indicators of Anthropogenic-derived Pollution (Case Study: Cikijing River, Rancaekek, West Java)

Dini Fitriani,Kartika Hajar Kirana,Siti Zulaikah,Widya Utami,Eleonora Agustine

doi:10.29303/jppipa.v7i3.697

Dini Fitriani, Kartika Hajar Kirana + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.29303/jppipa.v7i3.697

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Abstract

A number of activities occur around the Cikijing River in Rancaekek area, West Java, such as industrial and domestic activities. The various activities could decrease the quality of the river and surrounding environment due to anthropogenic pollutants that might be produced. Since the Cikijing River is also used as the source of irrigation, paddy fields around the river could be also be affected. The presence of pollutants in river sediments and agricultural soils over a long period could change their magnetic properties. Magnetic susceptibility of Cikijing River sediments and soils of the paddy fields in the surrounding have been examined considering that magnetic properties could represent environmental conditions. The results show that river sediments have magnetic susceptibility (cLF) in range of 356.2-456.3 (×10-8) m3kg-1, whereas soils samples have cLF varying from 94.1 to 347.1 (×10-8) m3kg-1, suggesting domination of ferrimagnetic minerals. The cFD (%) is <4% indicating the anthropogenic origin of magnetic minerals. Electron microscopy images show the imperfect octahedral and spherules shapes of magnetic grains that supports magnetic susceptibility analysis about the source of magnetic minerals. Elemental composition analysis reveals Fe and O’s content as main elements, including minor elements of Ca, Mg, Al. Si, Ti and Cr

Highlights

The environmental condition may change due to the entry of pollutants derived from natural processes and human activities
Numerous studies have examined the magnetic properties of natural materials and related them with the processes that occur in the environment, inferring that magnetic measurements combined with other analyses are suitable for environmental assessment
Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS) analysis of selected grains showed that Fe and O as the main elements

Summary

Introduction

The environmental condition may change due to the entry of pollutants derived from natural processes and human activities (anthropogenic sources). The pollutants could be deposited in natural materials such as rocks, soil, sediment, dust, and parts of plants. Measurement of magnetic properties has become a generally accepted method for assessing environmental pollution problems and understanding the various processes that occur in different environmental conditions (Mejia-Echeverry et al, 2018) since the measurements are simple, efficient in time, and nondestructive. Numerous studies have examined the magnetic properties of natural materials and related them with the processes that occur in the environment, inferring that magnetic measurements combined with other analyses are suitable for environmental assessment. Cervi et al (2014) and Lukasik et al (2016) identified magnetic properties of soil and their relation to heavy metal content. Magnetic properties of tree leaves (Marié et al, 2016) and tree bark (Brignole et al, 2018) as indicators of air pollution were characterized

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