Studies on the Distribution of 210 Pb in Surface Sediments of Peninsular Malaysia during Monsoonal Season
Abstract
Thirty-three surface sediments samples were collected from the East and West coasts of Peninsular Malaysia by using the Van Veen Grab during Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia – First Institute of Oceanography, China (UKM-FIO) Scientific Cruise. Samples were collected during Southwest Monsoon events (August 2017) and Northeast Monsoon events (March 2018). The analysis of chemical and physical of the homogenised sediment sample, including sediment textural, loss of ignition, and 210Pb concentration have been determined to investigate the effect of monsoonal changes to the physical and chemical characteristic of sediments in marginal sea area. The concentration of 210Pb in surface sediment ranged from 80.33 ± 11.81 Bq/kg to 231.52 ± 25.95 Bq/kg. The result of statistical analysis shows significant negative correlation between organic matter (OM) and the content of silt (r = -0.519, p < 0.05) and positive correlation between OM and sand (r = 0.507, p < 0.05) during Southwest monsoon. However, no significant correlations detected between 210Pb with the OM and sediments textural during both monsoons. Since the location of the sampling stations are located in the marginal sea area, it’s may suggest that the exposure to the boundary scavenging might leads to the fluctuated activity of 210Pb and organic content in surface sediment, which occurred due to high particle flux within the water column.
