Trace Metals in Surface Sediment of the South China Sea, Area II: Sarawak, Sabah and Brunei

Abstract

The trace metals composition of surface sediment of the South China Sea off Sarawak, Sabah and Brunei were measured. Total metal concentrations in the 63 ?m fraction are reported in this study. For the pre-monsoon cruise, the metal concentrations ranged between 1.01 – 13.0?gg^-1 Pb, 8.28 – 99.8 ?gg^-1 Cu, 27.8 – 137.0 ?gg^-1 Zn, 10.1 – 75.7 ?gg^-1 Cr, 175 – 1166 ?gg^-1 Mn, 0.83 – 4.57% and Fe 0.16 – 2.25%. The range of metal concentrations measured in the post-monsoon cruise varied between 1.63 – 18.9 ?gg^-1 Pb, 7.52 – 38.0 ?gg^-1 Cu , 14.4 – 105 ?gg^-1 Zn, 19.6 – 87.6 ?gg^-1 Cr, 157– 1890 ?gg^-1 Mn, 1.37 – 9.83 % Al and 0.51 – 4.47 % Fe. The distribution of metals in the sediment showed different patterns between the pre-monsoon and the post-monsoon periods. The Rajang River seems to be one of the major factors affecting the distribution of metals in the seabed off Sarawak.