Determination of Heavy Metals in Water and Sediment of Bakun Reservoir

The pollution of the aquatic environment with heavy metals has become a worldwide problem. This study aims at determining the level of heavy metals in water and sediment of Bakun Reservoir. Water and sediment samples from selected stations at Bakun Reservoir were collected and examined. The concentrations of heavy metals such as Zn, Ni, Se, and Cr were analyzed using Atomic Absorption Spectrometer (AAS) and Hg was analyzed using Mercury Analyzer. Se was found to have the highest concentration in the water and sediment samples with a mean concentration of 0.16 ± 0.059 mg/L, 133.8 ± 0.171 mg/kg respectively. The station 8 was found to be the most highly contaminated by Se in water while Station 4 was found to be the most highly contaminated by Se in sediment. Mean concentrations of heavy metals in water were found to be in the following order Se > Hg > Zn while in the sediment the mean concentrations were in the following order Se > Hg > Zn > Ni > Cr