Publication: Evaluating point source pollution: analysis of small-scale industries’ effluent
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Date
2024-08-01
Authors
Nur Aqila Syanaz Binti Aznan
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Abstract
Water pollution in Perai River, Penang caused by the effluents containing heavy metals has caused concern among residents, especially in contributory areas such as small-scale industries near Perai River, Penang. The focus of this study is to identify the type and concentration of pollutants, recognize the contributor sources to the pollution and propose the mitigation ways to reduce the concentration level of heavy metal pollutants in effluent that been discharged into Perai River, Penang by small-scale industries The measurement of various pollutants, especially heavy metals such as mercury is performed using Inductive Coupled Plasma–Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES). The results obtained from this study show that the concentration of mercury was found to be high which is 0.216 ppm and 1.00 ppm. Both results exceed the permissible limit of 0.05 ppm for Standard B of Industrial Effluent. The presence of mercury in small-scale industrial effluents may come from three potential contributor sources such as car service centre, paint shops and air-conditioning repair centre near the study area, as they manage in poor disposal practices where the components used in each industry are disposed of together with general wastes, then eventually into the wastewater. The Further research recommends increased awareness and collaborative efforts from stakeholders in implementing sustainable paradigm industry practices. Thus, there are a few mitigation strategies that were proposed to the small-scale industries to manage their effluent and minimize the concentrations of heavy metal pollutants to the environment.