Elevated heavy metal concentrations in surface sediments collected from the drainages of the Sri Serdang industrial area, Malaysia

The surface sediments were collected from the drainages and rivers of the Sri Serdang Industrial area at six sampling sites in August 2005. The samples were analyzed for total concentrations of Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn and Ni by using the aqua-regia method. The heavy metal concentrations (ug/g dry weight) ranged from 169.3 to 296.3 for Zn, 56.1 to 404.3 for Pb, 2.40 to 10.2 for Cd, 43.0 to 551.2 for Cu and 35.4 to 582.3 for Ni. A sampling site near to a metal manufacturing factory recorded the highest concentrations of Zn, Pb, Cd, Cu and Ni. In addition, these metal ranges were much higher than those reported for other polluted sites in the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia reported by Yap et al. (2002, 2003). Since these metal concentrations were higher than the Interim Sediment Quality Values- high (ISQVs-high) for Hong Kong (Chapman et al., 1999) and Interim Freshwater Sediment Quality Guidelines for Canada (CCME, 2002), these elevated metal concentrations are most likely contributed by nearby industrial activities. Therefore, further ecotoxicological research on heavy metal pollution in the Sri Serdang Industrial area is necessary