Soil Cadmium Contamination and Ecological Implications in a Tropical Urban Ecosystem: A Case Study of Air Hitam Sanitary Landfill in Puchong, Malaysia

Keeren S. Rajoo, . and Ahmad Ismail, . and Abdu Arifin, . and Daljit S. Karam, . and Zamri Rosli, . and Dzarifah Zulperi, . and Rosazlin Abdullah, . and Zheng, Alvin L.T. (2023) Soil Cadmium Contamination and Ecological Implications in a Tropical Urban Ecosystem: A Case Study of Air Hitam Sanitary Landfill in Puchong, Malaysia. Malaysian Journal of Soil Science (MJSS) (Malaysia), 27. pp. 97-110. ISSN 1394-7990

Cadmium (Cd) is a mobile heavy metal that is highly toxic to almost all lifeforms. Urban eco-systems are susceptible to Cd contamination due to certain anthropogenic activities. Despite being recognised as an acutely toxic element, its biogeochemical behaviour is still poorly studied and understood, especially in urban ecosystems of tropical countries. Therefore, this study was undertaken to address this knowledge gap. This study was conducted at Air Hitam Sanitary Landfill (AHSL) in Puchong, Malaysia. Samples were collected from various abiotic and biotic factors representing the biogeochemical cycle, including soil, flora, arthropods, atmospheric deposition, leachates, and river water samples. Acid digestion using aqua regia was conducted to determine the total Cd concentration in all samples collected. Cd concentrations at AHSL were relatively high in all biotic and abiotic factors with the concentrations showing a range of 0.019 ppm to 1.568 ppm. The bulk of Cd contamination in the ecosystem was found to eventually end up in rivers. The average Cd concentration in the river samples exceeded several environmental guidelines. There was also evidence of Cd entering food chains via soil arthropods and plants. Thus, Cd poses a credible threat to inhabitants of tropical urban ecosystems.

Full text available from: Official URL: https://www.msss.com.my/mjss/Full%20Text/vol27/V27...

Abstract

Cadmium (Cd) is a mobile heavy metal that is highly toxic to almost all lifeforms. Urban eco-systems are susceptible to Cd contamination due to certain anthropogenic activities. Despite being recognised as an acutely toxic element, its biogeochemical behaviour is still poorly studied and understood, especially in urban ecosystems of tropical countries. Therefore, this study was undertaken to address this knowledge gap. This study was conducted at Air Hitam Sanitary Landfill (AHSL) in Puchong, Malaysia. Samples were collected from various abiotic and biotic factors representing the biogeochemical cycle, including soil, flora, arthropods, atmospheric deposition, leachates, and river water samples. Acid digestion using aqua regia was conducted to determine the total Cd concentration in all samples collected. Cd concentrations at AHSL were relatively high in all biotic and abiotic factors with the concentrations showing a range of 0.019 ppm to 1.568 ppm. The bulk of Cd contamination in the ecosystem was found to eventually end up in rivers. The average Cd concentration in the river samples exceeded several environmental guidelines. There was also evidence of Cd entering food chains via soil arthropods and plants. Thus, Cd poses a credible threat to inhabitants of tropical urban ecosystems.

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Item Type:	Article
AGROVOC Term:	cadmium
AGROVOC Term:	soil pollution
AGROVOC Term:	urban environment
AGROVOC Term:	environmental monitoring
AGROVOC Term:	heavy metals
AGROVOC Term:	Arthropods
AGROVOC Term:	plants
AGROVOC Term:	biogeochemical cycle
AGROVOC Term:	ecotoxicology
Geographical Term:	Malaysia
Depositing User:	Mr. Khoirul Asrimi Md Nor
Date Deposited:	15 May 2025 02:59
Last Modified:	15 May 2025 02:59
URI:	http://webagris.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/2750

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