Training Department, Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center
Abstract
The trace metals composition of surface sediment of the South China Sea off Sarawak, Sabah and Brunei were measured. Total metal concentrations in the 63 µm fraction are reported in this study. For the pre-monsoon cruise, the metal concentrations ranged between 1.01 – 13.0 µgg-1 Pb, 8.28 – 99.8 µgg-1 Cu, 27.8 – 137.0 µgg-1 Zn, 10.1 – 75.7 µgg-1 Cr, 175 – 1166 µgg-1 Mn, 0.83 – 4.57% and Fe 0.16 – 2.25%. The range of metal concentrations measured in the post-monsoon cruise varied between 1.63 – 18.9 µgg-1 Pb, 7.52 – 38.0 µgg-1 Cu , 14.4 – 105 µgg-1 Zn, 19.6 – 87.6 µgg-1 Cr, 157– 1890 µgg-1 Mn, 1.37 – 9.83 % Al and 0.51 – 4.47 % Fe. The distribution of metals in the sediment showed different patterns between the pre-monsoon and the post-monsoon periods. The Rajang River seems to be one of the major factors affecting the distribution of metals in the seabed off Sarawak
