Pollution Level and Assessment of a Tropical River in Pahang Malaysia

Abstract

Rivers are often contaminated with metals. This study was conducted on the Jempul River in Jengka, Pahang, Malaysia, due to the agricultural activities carried out along this river. The aims are to investigate the levels of certain metals (namely Al, Fe, Mn, and Pb), identify their likely sources, assess their toxicity loads, and estimate the associated health risks. Inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) was used to determine metal concentrations. The concentrations were discovered in the following order: Fe > Al > Mn > Pb, for both dry and wet conditions. The highest concentration in water sample was observed for Fe (1.28 mg/l) in the dry condition and the lowest was detected for Pb (0.04 mg/l) in the wet condition. Principal component analysis (PCA) indicated that the metals originate from natural and anthropogenic sources. Based on metal toxicity load (MTL) calculations, it is recommended that approximately 73% of Pb, 60% of Mn, and 58% of Al be eliminated from the river water to ensure its safety. Children are more susceptible to non-cancer and cancer hazards than adults. This study suggests that extensive exposure assessment and detailed monitoring of water quality indicators should be carried out.