Spatial Distribution of Soil Elemental
Pollution in the vicinity of Kapar IndustrialArea
Md Suhaimi Elias, Azian Hasim, Jeremy Andy Dominic Daung, andMuhammad Azfar Azman
Waste and Environmental Technology Division
Malaysian Nuclear Agency

1.0 Introduction❑Heavy metal, major, trace, actinide and rare earth elements (REEs)
contamination has been a major concern due to it’s capability totransfer through the food web that consequently will give anadverse effects to human health.
❑In Malaysia, elemental pollution of heavy metal, major and traceelements, actinides (U & Th) and REEs in soil was given attention
nowadays due to it’s relation to the rapid industrial development.
❑Kapar and Shah Alam (Selangor state), Senawang – (NegeriSembilan state), Gebeng (Lynas – Pahang state), Prai – (Penangstate) and Pasir Gudang - (Johor state) of industrial area in
Malaysia.

1.0 Introduction• Description related to the status of contamination.

Sources: Ayari, et al., 2016.

1.0 Introduction❑ Enrichment factor (EF)• The enrichment factor (EF) is a common approached inestimating the anthropogenic impact for metal concentration
over natural or background level concentration.

EF =( El ) sample /( X ) sample

Equation ------- (1)( El ) crustal /( X ) crustal

Where:(El)sample concentration of interest element in sample.
(X)sample concentration of reference element for normalization insample.
(El)crust concentration values of interest element from literature.
(X)crust concentration value of reference element fornormalization from literature.
Sources: Zahra, et al., 2014.

1.0 Introduction❑ Enrichment factor (EF) index classifications.
EF value

Description of sediment classification> 40.0Extremely enrichment

20.0 < EF ≤ 40.0
5.0 < EF ≤ 20.0

Very high enrichment

2.0 < EF ≤ 5.0

Moderate enrichment≤ 2.0

No to minor enrichment

High enrichment

1.0 Introduction❑ Geoaccumulation index• geo-accumulation index (Igeo) – is define the degree ofanthropogenic pollution by comparing current concentrationof elemental in soil over earth’s crust.

 Cn I geo = log 2 
 1.5 • Bn 
Where:Equation ------- (2)Cn - concentration of interest element.
Bn - background value of interest reference element
concentration from earth’s crust (literature).
1.5 - correction factor for the variation of thebackground values due to lithogenic effects.
Sources: Müller (1969); Ayari, et al., 2016

1.0 Introduction❑ Geo-accumulation index categorised.
Igeo value

Igeo class

Description of sediment contamination>5

6

Very strongly contaminated

>4–5
>3–4

5

Strong to very strong contaminated4

Strongly contaminated

>2–3

3

Moderately to strongly contaminated

>1–2

2

Moderately contaminated

>0–1

1

Uncontaminated to moderately contaminated<00Uncontaminated2.0 Methodology – Kapar Industrial Area
• Sampling locations of soil samples in
Kapar Industrial Area.

2.1 Methodology - Kapar Industrial Area (18 locations)
Location
Area A
Area B
Area CArea HArea D
Area E
Area F
Area GArea I
Area J
Area K
Area LArea M
Area N
Area OArea P
Area Q
Area R

Activities description
Residential area
Meru South Industrial Park – Electrical , cable,aluminium, smelter, glove and steel
industries.
Sg. Kapar Industrial Park – automotive,plastic, glove, wood, steel, costing industries
Close to Kapar coal power plant, agriculturearea
Agriculture area
Agriculture area
Residential area, and shop lot
Kapar Industry Park – Manufacturing, coating,plastic and wood industries.
Residential area, small agriculture activities
Residential area, small agriculture activities
Kg. Tambak Jaya - Food, manufacturing,wood, furniture, plastic and coating
industries.
Agriculture area, residential area
Agriculture area, residential area
Residential area, small agriculture activities
Agriculture area, residential area

2.2 Methodology – Analysis of soil by using NAA Technique• PUSPATI Triga Mark II Research Reactor at
Malaysian Nuclear Agency• Max power 1MW• Average neutron flux 1.0 to 2.0 X 1012
n.cm-2.s-1• Normal operational 750kW• Soil sample weight – 0.1 to 0.2 g• Analysis process• Short half-life radionuclide such as
Al, Ca, K, Na, Ti - 1 minuteirradiation, 20 minutes cooling and
10 minutes counting (gammaspectrometry)• Long half-life radionuclides such as
As, Cr, Zn, Sb and Rare EarthElements (REEs) – 6 hours
irradiation, 2- 4 days cooling, 1 hourfor counting.

3.0 Results and Discussion❑Enrichment Factor (EF) of Elements in Soil of the KaparIndustrial Area

3.0 Results and Discussion❑Geo-accumulation Index (Igeo) of Elements in Soil of theKapar Industrial Area

3.0 Results and Discussion❑ Distribution of Major Elements in Soil of the Kapar Industrial Area

3.0 Results and Discussion❑ Distribution of Major Elements in Soil of the Kapar Industrial Area

3.0 Results and Discussion❑ Distribution of Heavy metals in Soil of the Kapar Industrial Area

3.0 Results and Discussion❑ Distribution of REEs in Soil of the Kapar Industrial Area3.0 Results and Discussion❑ Distribution of REEs in Soil of the Kapar Industrial Area

3.0 Results and Discussion❑ Distribution of REEs, U and Th in Soil of the Kapar Industrial Area

4.0 Conclusion• The source of Fe, K and Ti were probably originated from geogenic
processes (weathering and terrestrial runoff)• Heavy metal pollutions such as As, Cr, Sb, and Zn were most likely
originated from the industrial activities.
• The REEs concentration such as Eu, La, Sm, Tb, Dy, Ce, Nd, Lu andYb in Area N located near the food, manufacturing, wood,furniture, plastic and coating industries were relatively highercompare to other areas .
• The U element concentration in Area N and Area I were relatively
higher compare to other areas.
• The Th element concentration in Area N and Area B, both locatednear the industrial activities were relatively higher compare toother areas.

4.0 Conclusion• The element of As can be categorised as uncontaminated tomoderately contaminated, and as extremely contaminated.
• Sb element can be categorised as moderately contaminatedand as strongly to extremely contaminated.

• The elements of Cr, Cs and Hf can be categorised as
uncontaminated to moderately contaminated and as
moderately to strongly contaminated• Other elements can be categorised as uncontaminated and as
uncontaminated to moderately contaminated.

Thank You