Abstract
The Linggi River drainage basin in Negeri Sembilan Malaysia is the major source of potable water for the townships of Seremban and Port Dickson. Water quality is threatened by industrial and commercial development taking place in the basin. This study investigated the concentrations and distribution of organic micro-pollutants and heavy metals within the catchment. Arsenic, copper, cadmium, lead, mercury and zinc were determined in water and sediment samples. All heavy metal concentrations were increased down the basin; arsenic and copper concentration in particular were elevated probably due respectively to flow in of arsenical herbicides in rubber and oil palm plantations and copper sulphate and an additive in pig food.
Total phenol concentration also increased considerably within the catchment as a result of urbanisation. Five priority phenolic pollutants (2,4-dimethylphenol; 4-chloro-3-methylphenol; 2,4,6-trichlorophenol; 4-introphenol; pentachlorophenol) were found.
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Sarmani, S., Abdullah, M.P., Baba, I. et al. Inventory of heavy metals and organic micropollutants In an urban water catchment drainage basin. Hydrobiologia 235, 669–674 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00026255
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00026255