Determination Of Physicochemical Parameters And Heavy Metals Contents In Tasik Al-Abrar And Several Lakes In USIM

Heavy metal pollution has been a major concern due to their high potential risks in causing severe environmental and health problems. This study aims to study the mean concentrations of heavy metals in several lakes of Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM) and their potential to be developed for recreational purposes. The water sample from USIM lakes will first be sampled in a HDPE bottles before their physicochemical properties such as pH, conductivity, and total dissolved solids (TDS) as well as heavy metal concentrations will be studied. The physicochemical properties of water will be
measured using total TDS/ conductivity and pH meter while the heavy metals contents will be studied using Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectroscopy (ICP OES). The types of heavy metals that will be observed are Arsenic (Ar), Cadmium (Cd), Lead (Pb), and Nickel (Ni). It is expected that the physicochemical parameters and the heavy metals concentration will be within the specification range as assigned by the Water Quality Index and National Water Quality Standards for Malaysia because most of the lakes are situated far from any industrial activities. Nonetheless, other factors that
may contribute to any abnormal reading of heavy metal concentrations in the lakes also will be studied.