title: Evaluation of distribution and sources of sewage molecular marker (LABs) in selected rivers and estuaries of Peninsular Malaysia.
abstract: This is the first extensive report on linear alkylbenzenes (LABs) as sewage molecular markers in surface sediments collected from the Perlis, Kedah, Merbok, Prai, and Perak Rivers and Estuaries in the west of Peninsular Malaysia. Sediment samples were extracted, fractionated, and analyzed using gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The concentrations of total LABs ranged from 68 to 154 (Perlis River), 103 to 314 (Kedah River), 242 to 1062 (Merbok River), 1985 to 2910 (Prai River), and 217 to 329 ng g(-1) (Perak River) dry weight (dw). The highest levels of LABs were found at PI3 (Prai Estuary) due to the rapid industrialization and population growth in this region, while the lowest concentrations of LABs were found at PS1 (upstream of Perlis River). The LABs ratio of internal to external isomers (I/E) in this study ranged from 0.56 at KH1 (upstream of Kedah River) to 1.35 at MK3 (Merbok Estuary) indicating that the rivers receive raw sewage and primary treatment effluents in the study area. In general, the results of this paper highlighted the necessity of continuation of water treatment system improvement in Malaysia.
authors.affiliation: Environmental Forensics Research Center (ENFORCE), Faculty of Environmental Studies, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Sami M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Magam
authors.affiliation: Institute of Ocean and Earth Sciences, University of Malaya, 16310, Bachok, Kelantan, Malaysia. mpauzi57@um.edu.my.
authors.forename: Mohamad Pauzi
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Zakaria
authors.affiliation: Environmental Forensics Research Center (ENFORCE), Faculty of Environmental Studies, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Normala
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Halimoon
authors.affiliation: Environmental Forensics Research Center (ENFORCE), Faculty of Environmental Studies, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Ahmad Zaharin
authors.initials: AZ
authors.lastname: Aris
authors.affiliation: Environmental Forensics Research Center (ENFORCE), Faculty of Environmental Studies, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Narayanan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kannan
authors.affiliation: Environmental Forensics Research Center (ENFORCE), Faculty of Environmental Studies, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Najat
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Masood
authors.affiliation: Halal Products Research Institute, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 4300 UPM, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Shuhaimi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mustafa
authors.affiliation: Environmental Forensics Research Center (ENFORCE), Faculty of Environmental Studies, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Sadeq
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Alkhadher
authors.affiliation: Environmental Forensics Research Center (ENFORCE), Faculty of Environmental Studies, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Mehrzad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Keshavarzifard
authors.affiliation: Environmental Forensics Research Center (ENFORCE), Faculty of Environmental Studies, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Vahab
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Vaezzadeh
authors.affiliation: Halal Products Research Institute, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 4300 UPM, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Muhamad S A
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Sani
authors.affiliation: School of Environmental and Natural Resource Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600, Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Mohd Talib
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Latif
mesh_terms: D000473:Alkanes / Q000032:analysis; D001555:Benzene Derivatives / Q000032:analysis*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D063366:Estuaries; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry*; D008296:Malaysia; D045483:Rivers / Q000737:chemistry*; D012722:Sewage / Q000032:analysis*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D000473:Alkanes; D001555:Benzene Derivatives; D012722:Sewage; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
keywords: I/E ratio; Linear alkylbenzenes (LABs); Malaysia; Merbok River; Perlis River; Prai River