DISTRIBUTION OF METAL CONTAMINATION IN SEDIMENTS IN AKELAMO RIVER, SOUTH HALMAHERA

• Main Author: Farhan Fadhillah, Arfien
• Format: Final Project
• Language: Indonesia
• Subjects: Sistem
• Online Access: https://digilib.itb.ac.id/gdl/view/77690
• Institution: Institut Teknologi Bandung

Increasing nickel ore productivity in northern Indonesia has the potential to contribute anthropogenic contaminants that threaten the quality of the waters of the Akelamo River in South Halmahera. Heavy metals are one aspect that has not been studied in detail their effects on river waters. This study aims to determine the distribution of contamination from Fe, Cr, Mn, Ni, and Zn metals in sediments in the Akelamo River, South Halmahera. Sediment sampling is carried out by purpose sampling. Measurements of heavy metals in sediments were carried out using the near acid digestion method in ICP-MS. The concentration of metals in the sediment was compared with the Sediment Quality Guideline (SQGs) and an assessment of the level of pollution was carried out based on the Geoaccumulation Index (Igeo), Enrichment Factor (EF), Contamination Factor (CF), and Pollution Load Index (PLI). The spatial distribution of metal contamination is visualized by IDW interpolation. The results showed metal concentrations in sediments for Fe, Cr, Mn, Ni, and Zn were 63,600 – 141,000 ppm (Fe), 488 – 4,040 ppm (Cr), 1,130 – 2,100 ppm (Mn), 179 – 2,280 Ni, and 61.2 – 110 ppm (Zn). The order of metal concentration from highest is Fe > Cr > Mn > Ni > Zn. Igeo values indicate the status of not contaminated to moderately contaminated by Fe, Mn, and Zn metals, moderately to high contaminated by Cr metals and highly contaminated by Ni metals. EF values indicate that Akelamo River sediments underwent minor enrichment by Fe, Mn, and Zn metals, moderately high enrichment by Cr metals, and high enrichment by Ni metals. CF values for Fe, Mn, and Zn metals indicate moderate contamination factors in sediments, and Cr and Ni metals are very high contamination factors in Akelamo River sediments. The PLI value of > 1 (3.53 ± 1.84) indicates that the pollution load level is included in the category of heavy metal contamination, which has the potential to cause a decrease in the quality of Akelamo River sediments and affect the river ecosystem.