Metal concentration at surface water using multivariate analysis and human health risk assessment

Abstract

This study defined the concentration of metals in Kerteh and Paka River water and their potential health  risk  towards human. 54  water  samples  were  collected  and  analyzed  using  ICP-OES. Results revealed that most of the stations in Kerteh River gave the higher concentration of Cd, Cu, Zn, Co, Ni, As, Cr and Pb compared to Paka River. However As, Cr and Pb have exceeded the permissible limit of Malaysia standard for all stations in both rivers. Cd, Cu, Zn, Co and Ni were below than Malaysian  standard permissible levels  during  the sampling period.  The  principal component  analysis (PCA) revealed  that both  geogenic  and  anthropogenic  sources  were responsible to possible metals contamination in both rivers. Moreover, risk assessments for all metals were within the safe limits, except for As in the Kerteh River for both adult and child as well as to Paka River for both genders.

Keywords: metal; ICP-OES; principal component analysis; risk assessment