Sains Malaysiana 48(11)(2019): 2451–2462

http://dx.doi.org/10.17576/jsm-2019-4811-15

Physico-chemical Characterisation and Potential Health Benefit of the Hulu Langat Hot Spring in Selangor, Malaysia

(Pencirian Fiziko-kimia dan Potensi Manfaat Kesihatan bagi Mata Air Panas Hulu Langat Selangor, Malaysia)

NORBERT SIMON^1,2,3*, TANOT UNJAH¹, MUZAFFAR YUSRY¹ & MUHAMMAD ASHAHADI DZULKAFLI²

¹Institute for Environment and Development (LESTARI), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

²Center for Earth Science and the Environment, Faculty of Science & Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

³Natural Disaster Research Center, Faculty of Science and Natural Resources, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Jalan UMS, 88400 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia

Received: 26 March 2019/Accepted: 15 August 2019

ABSTRACT

Geotourism is a means in geology that contributes to one of the 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs). One of the key areas in geology that can contribute to geotourism activities is hot spring exploration. This study, therefore explores hot springs in Hulu Langat, Selangor for their potential in geotourism based on their physico-chemical properties and their attributed health benefits potential. These renowned hot springs are Batu 16, Dusun Tua, National Youth Training Institute (IKBN), Sg. Serai, and Sg. Lalang. Despite their popularity among tourists, their health benefits potential remain unclear. Therefore, the physico-chemical properties of these hot springs and their potential health benefits as indicated by the abundance of trace elements in each site will be determined in this study. The temperature (℃), conductivity (μs/cm), total dissolved solid (mg/L), salinity (ppt), dissolved oxygen (mg/L) and pH values of the hot springs have been measured in-situ, and the concentrations of trace elements (Si, Li, Fe, Pb, Mn, Ni, Se, Ag, Na, Zn, K, Mg, Ca, Al, As, Ba, Cd, Cr and Cu) in hot springs water have been determined in the laboratory. Based on the in-situ measurement results, the hot springs are classified according to their pH and temperature. The pH value range from 6.83-8.71 shows that these hot springs are neutral to weak alkaline. The lowest temperature (40.47°C) has been recorded in Dusun Tua hot spring, whereas the highest temperatures (70.41-74.03°C) have been observed in IKBN hot springs. High concentrations of Si, Li, Na, K, As and Cu are found in Batu 16 hot spring. The concentrations of Fe and Ca are higher in Sg. Serai and Sg. Lalang hot springs, and the highest K concentration is found in Dusun Tua hot spring. The other concentration of trace elements are generally low and similar across hot springs. Given the abundance of trace elements, the hot springs could possibly cure certain diseases, such as psoriasis and eczema. The Batu 16, Sg. Serai and Sg Lalang hot springs have the potential to be developed as important sites for health geotourism industries due to the high trace elements concentration. Thus, this study may serve as a basis for further investigations on this aspect.

Keywords: Hot spring; Hulu Langat; mineral; potential health benefit

ABSTRAK

Geopelancongan ialah satu usaha dalam bidang geologi yang menyumbang kepada salah satu daripada 17 matlamat Pembangunan Mampan (SDGs). Salah satu bidang utama dalam geologi yang boleh menyumbang kepada aktiviti geopelancongan ialah penerokaan mata air panas. Oleh itu, kajian ini mengenal pasti mata air panas di Hulu Langat, Selangor dan potensinya terhadap manfaat kesihatan, yang berpotensi dijadikan kawasan geopelancongan. Mata air panas yang dikenali ramai ini adalah Batu 16, Dusun Tua, Institut Kemahiran Belia Negara (IKBN), Sg. Serai, dan Sg. Lalang. Walau pun terkenal dalam kalangan pelancong, potensinya terhadap manfaat kesihatan masih kurang jelas. Oleh itu, pencirian fiziko-kimia dan potensi manfaat kesihatan bagi mata air panas tersebut yang ditunjukkan oleh kelimpahan unsur surih di setiap lokasi akan ditentukan dalam kajian ini. Suhu (℃), kekonduksian elektrik (μs/cm), jumlah pepejal terlarut (mg/L), kemasinan (ppt), oksigen terlarut (mg/L) dan nilai pH mata air panas diukur secara in-situ, dan kepekatan unsur kimia (Si, Li, Fe, Pb, Mn, Ni, Se, Ag, Na, Zn, K, Mg, Ca, Al, As, Ba, Cd, Cr and Cu) di dalam mata air panas ditentukan melalui kajian makmal. Berdasarkan hasil pengukuran in-situ, mata air panas dikelaskan berdasarkan nilai pH dan suhunya. Julat pH adalah 6.83-8.71 menunjukkan mata air panas ini adalah neutral ke alkali lemah. Suhu paling rendah (40.47°C) telah direkodkan di mata air panas Dusun Tua, manakala suhu tertinggi (70.41-74.03°C) telah didapati di mata air IKBN. Kepekatan Si, Li, Na, K, As dan Cu yang tinggi ditemukan di mata air panas Batu 16. Kepekatan Fe dan Ca didapati lebih tinggi di Sg Serai dan Sg Lalang, manakala kepekatan K tertinggi ditemukan di mata air Dusun Tua. Kepekatan unsur surih dalam mata air panas di lokasi lain secara umumnya rendah dan hampir sama. Berdasarkan kelimpahan unsur surih, Unsur kimia mata air panas ini mungkin juga dapat menyembuhkan penyakit-penyakit tertentu, seperti psoriasis dan ekzema. Mata air panas Batu 16, Sg. Serai dan Sg Lalang mempunyai potensi untuk dibangunkan sebagai tapak penting industri geopelancongan kesihatan. Oleh itu, kajian ini boleh dijadikan asas kepada kajian lanjutan dalam aspek yang sama.

Kata kunci: Hulu Langat; mata air panas; mineral; potensi manfaat untuk kesihatan

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*Corresponding author; email: norbsn@ukm.edu.my