Seasonal influences on the levels of particulate matter, Cd, Cr and Pb in Kuantan River, Pahang

Abstract

Temporal and spatial variations of selected toxic elements distributions were studied along the Kuantan River. Surface and bottom waters from 9 sampling stations were taken from the estuary towards the upstream of Kuantan River using Van-Dorn water sampler during the rainy and dry season. Water samples were filtered and the filter papers were dried under the laminar flow and weighed until constant weight obtained. Filter papers were analyzed using Teflon Bomb digestion processes. The concentration of particulate Pb, Cd and Cr were in the range of 0.646 to 174.859 mg L-1, 6.047 to 271.497 mg L-1 and ND to 14.480 mg L-1, respectively. Particulate Pb, Cd and Cr obtained mostly higher in May 2012 during the dry season. Particulate Cd and Cr were found above the limits authorize by International Commission for the Protection of the Rhine river against Pollution (ICPR). Apart from the anthropogenic activities, rainy and dry season also become the important factors affecting the particulate metals concentrations and distributions in the waters.