title: Mercury and methylmercury distribution in the intertidal surface sediment of a heavily anthrophogenically impacted saltwater-mangrove-sediment interplay zone.
abstract: Total mercury (THg) and methylmercury (MeHg) concentrations were determined from sediment samples collected from thirty sampling stations in Port Klang, Malaysia. Three stations had THg concentrations exceeding the threshold effect level of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the Canadian interim sediment quality guidelines. THg and MeHg concentrations were found to be concentrated in the Lumut Strait where inputs from the two most urbanized rivers in the state converged (i.e. Klang River and Langat River). This suggests that Hg in the study area likely originated from the catchments of these rivers. MeHg made up 0.06-94.96% of the sediment's THg. There is significant positive correlation (p < 0.01) between THg and MeHg concentrations. Significant positive correlation (p < 0.05) was also observed between fine sediment particles (i.e. clay and silt) with MeHg concentrations. Sediment particle size, however, was not found to have any influence on THg concentrations in the sediment in the study area.
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 USM, Penang, Malaysia; Faculty of Environmental Studies, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia. Electronic address: ha33eman@yahoo.co.uk.
authors.forename: Hazzeman
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Haris
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Environmental Studies, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia. Electronic address: zaharin@upm.edu.my.
authors.forename: Ahmad Zaharin
authors.initials: AZ
authors.lastname: Aris
authors.affiliation: Deputy Vice-Chancellor's Office, Chancellery Building, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM, Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia; Institute for Environment and Development (LESTARI), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM, Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Mazlin Bin
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Mokhtar
mesh_terms: D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000032:analysis; D008296:Malaysia; D008628:Mercury / Q000032:analysis*; D008767:Methylmercury Compounds / Q000032:analysis*; D010316:Particle Size; D012307:Risk Factors; D045483:Rivers; D000068357:Saline Waters / Q000032:analysis*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis; D018508:Water Purification / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D008767:Methylmercury Compounds; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D008628:Mercury
keywords: Coastal mangrove; Intertidal surface sediment; Mercury speciation; Methylmercury; Pollution indices; Port