Mohd Ismid Mohd Said

Effect of Land Use on Coastal Water and Perna viridis at Johor Straits, Malaysia

In this study, land use effect on river water quality and its subsequent impact on Johor Strait coastal water and green mussel, Perna viridis cultivated at the strait near the fast growing city of Johor Bahru, is investigated. Over the years, changes in land use and increased discharge of domestic, agricultural and industrial waste into the coastal water has severely impaired the water condition and threatened the profitable green mussel aquacu lture activity. Cu and Zn concentrations in water were found to be higher at sampling points closer to Johor Bahr u city while Sungai Pendas and Sungai Melayu which are less develop yielded lower pollutants concentration. The heavy metal concentrations (in mg/L) are between 0.18 to 0.38 for Zn and 3.24 to 3.44 for Cu. Coastal water recorded Zn concentratio n (in mg/L) of 0.03 to 0.05 and Cu concentration of 0.25 to 0.33 while green mussels recorded (in μg/g) 18.24 to 40.01 of Zn and 24.29 to 92.52 of Cu.

Copper in Water, Sediment and Strombus Canarium at South Western Coast of Peninsular Malaysia

Cu concentration was determined in water, sediment and soft tissue of deposit feeder Strombus canarium collected from two sites at western coast of Johor Straits, Malaysia. The sites are located at Tanjung Bin and the seagrass bed near Tanjung Kupang. The study found higher concentration in Strombus canarium from seagrass bed than those in Tanjung Bin which were 7.02 and 3.71 µg/g respectively. Smaller concentration in Strombus canarium from Tanjung Bin is due to less Cu accumulation from its surrounding. However, the concentrations were within the permissible limit of Malaysian Food Standard. The concentration of Cu in water at both sites exceeded the Malaysia Marine Water Quality Criteria and Standard for Class E, whereas sediment is classified as moderately polluted based on the proposed quality by Environmental Protection Agency.