Study Of Heavy Metal Lead (Pb) In The Northern Waters Of Belitung Regency Salsabila Fathona (a*), Ayu Utami Nurhidayati (b), Rima Rachmayani (a), Dwi Amanda Utami (b)
a) Oceanography Study Program, Institut Teknologi Bandung - Jl. Ganesha No. 10, 40132 Bandung, Indonesia
*salsabilaafath[at]students.itb.ac.id
b) Research Center for Climate and Atmosphere, National Research and Innovation Agency Republic of Indonesia - Jl. Cisitu Sangkuriang, 40135 Bandung, Indonesia
Abstract
The Belitung Regency has considerable tin potential spread over the land, rivers and beaches. This potential has been mined for hundreds of years. Unfortunately, this tin mining activity has been indicated to be a source of pollution in the northern region of Belitung Regency. This is the background for the purpose of this study, which is to determine the distribution of lead metal (Pb) concentrations in sediments and water column in the northern waters of Belitung Regency, and to determine the effect of season (ocean current) to the distribution of lead concentration. Data collection was conducted insitu, data taken in the form of sediment samples, water column samples, and oceanographic parameters (sea water quality and ocean currents). Lead in sediment and water column was analyzed at the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) laboratory using the Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry (AAS) method. The results indicate that Pb metal in sediment samples in the east monsoon ranging from 10.08 - 50.08 mg/kg while in the west monsoon, lead concentrations ranging from 10.96 - 60.72 mg/kg. In the water column, lead concentration in the west monsoon ranging from 0 - 0.05 mg/L. Almost all Pb metal concentration stations in the water column have values above the threshold based on PP. No. 22 of 2021 and some Pb concentration stations in the sediment have values above the threshold based on ANZECC & ARMCANZ so that it is indicated that it can affect the condition of marine biota. Pb concentration in the sediment was higher than in the water column in the west season in the west monsoon. Seasonal analysis showed that in the east monsoon, the highest concentration of Pb in the sediment was in the open sea and in the west monsoon in the river. This indicates the influence of ocean currents on the distribution of Pb metal.
Keywords: AAS, Belitung Regency, Lead (Pb), Ocean Currents, Sediment, Water column
