Summary
This study assessed spatial and seasonal variation in soil heavy metal contamination adjacent to Chini Lake, Malaysia, analysing 60 soil samples from 10 sites during wet and dry seasons. Notable mean concentrations were detected for nickel, manganese, and lead, with contamination indices indicating moderate pollution levels for cadmium, cobalt, and lead, particularly in mining and agricultural areas. The research identifies mining waste and agricultural chemicals as primary anthropogenic sources of soil contamination, while nickel, chromium, and manganese derive predominantly from natural geogenic backgrounds, emphasising the substantial impact of seasonal inputs on soil quality.
UK applicability
Whilst the specific metals, concentrations, and geochemical context are particular to Malaysia's tropical setting and mining/agricultural practices, the methodological approach (ICP-MS analysis, contamination indices, source apportionment via PCA) is transferable to UK soil contamination assessments. UK soil studies could similarly employ these statistical techniques to distinguish natural and anthropogenic heavy metal sources, though UK background values and primary contamination pathways (e.g. historical industrial activity, road traffic) differ substantially from the Malaysian context.
Key measures
Heavy metal concentrations (ppb) measured by ICP-MS; contamination factor (CF); pollution load index (PLI); principal component analysis (PCA) variance; cluster analysis (CA) grouping
Outcomes reported
The study quantified concentrations of ten heavy metal elements (Cr, Cu, Co, Ni, Cd, Ba, Pb, Mn, As, Zn) in surface soils across 10 sites during wet and dry seasons, and identified their sources using contamination indices and multivariate statistical analysis. Findings revealed moderate contamination levels for certain metals, with distinct contributions from natural geogenic backgrounds and anthropogenic sources (mining and agriculture).
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