Sains Malaysiana 41(4)(2012): 389-394

 

Application of Factor Analysis in Geochemical Fractions of Heavy Metals in the Surface Sediments of the Offshore and Intertidal Areas of Peninsular Malaysia

(Aplikasi Analisis Faktor di dalam Logam Berat Fraksi Geokimia pada Sedimen Permukaan bagi Kawasan  Luar Pantai dan Pasang Surut di Semenanjung Malaysia)

 

 

C.K. Yap*

Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia

43400 UPM, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia

 

Received: 16 May 2011 / Accepted: 20 October 2011

 

 

ABSTRACT

 

In this study, heavy metal data (including four geochemical fractions) from offshore and intertidal sediments collected off the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia were analyzed using factor analysis. A similarity was found when comparing between offshore and intertidal sediments, where out of the 20 variables, five factors (resistant Cu, total Cu, resistant Pb, total Pb and total Zn) could be clearly selected on the basis of their high loadings as derived by factor analysis in both sediment sampling areas. However, the statistical outputs based on the present study using factor analysis cannot be practically acceptable mainly because the resistant fractions are not of anthropogenic origins and ecotoxicologists are more concern on the anthropogenic ones. Only a modification using a specific normalizing agent such as the nonresistant fraction, should be tested to show feasibility of the contribution of anthropogenic sources in the two sampling areas. However, a more comprehensive metal monitoring data should be compiled to complement the results obtainable from factor analysis, before a valid Malaysian Marine Sediment Pollution Index or Sediment Quality Guidelines, can be proposed to be established.

 

Keywords: Factor analysis; metals in sediment; Peninsular Malaysia

 

ABSTRAK

 

Di dalam kajian ini, data logam berat (termasuk empat fraksi geokimia) dari sedimen di kawasan luar pantai dan kawasan pasang surut dari pantai barat Semenanjung Malaysia telah dianalisis menggunakan analisis faktor. Perbandingan antara kawasan luar pantai dan pasang-surut menunjukkan bahawa daripada 20 pembolehubah, lima faktor (Cu rentang, Cu jumlah, Pb rentang, Pb jumlah dan Zn jumlah) telah dipilih berdasarkan muatan tinggi hasil analisis faktor pada kedua-dua kawasan sedimen tersebut. Namun demikian, output statistik berdasarkan kajian ini menggunakan analisis faktor tidak boleh diterima secara praktik kerana fraksi rentang bukan berasal daripada antropogenik dan ahli ekotoksikologi lebih berminat pada sumber antropogenik. Hanya modifikasi menggunakan agen pernormalan yang tertentu sepertifraksi tidak rentang, harus dicuba supaya sumbangan daripada sumber antropogenik di kedua-dua kawasan kajian boleh diketahui. Bagaimanapun, data pemonitoran logam yang komprehensif harus dikumpulkan dengan data menggunakan analisis faktor, sebelum suatu Indeks Pencemaran Sedimen Marin Malaysia atau Garis Panduan Kualiti Sedimen, boleh dipertimbangkan.

 

Kata kunci: Analisis faktor; logam di sedimen; Semenanjung Malaysia

 

 

 

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*Corresponding author; email: yapckong@hotmail.com