Determination of Sediment Profile for ²¹⁰Pb, Pb, U and Th from Sultan Abu Bakar Dam Due to Soil Erosion from Highland Agriculture Area, Cameron Highlands, Malaysia

Abstract

Problem statement: Sultan Abu Bakar Dam in Cameron Highlands act as a catchment’s to accumulate all eroded soil carried by the run off flow through Bertam River, the main river that passes through the highland agriculture area. All suspended solid that carried out by the river contain various kind of hazard potential to the environment. U, Th and Pb are the potential hazard elements carried out by water and accumulate at the dam. Approach: Five sampling point were selected where five 30cm core collected at each sampling point. Each core were sliced at 2cm and homogenized. ²¹⁰Pb in homogenize sliced was determine using Alpha Spectrometry method. Plot of concentration against depth produce vertical distribution profile of the elements. This study will measure the activity of ²¹⁰Pb in sediment at Sultan Abu Bakar Dam and measure the concentration of U, Th and Pb using Energy Dispersive X-Ray Fluorescence (EDXRF) technique. Results: The concentration of ²¹⁰Pb, Pb, U and Th was found that there is no obvious distribution pattern was observed in the depth profile. Activity of ²¹⁰Pb ranged between 134.4-323.4 Bq kg^-1 while the concentration of total U, Th and Pb range between 21.51-28.81, 40.73-69.58 and 53.62-72.68 mg kg^-1 respectively. Conclusion: Accumulation of U was observed at one of the study point. This observation maybe attributed due to the high rate of vertical accumulation of sediment when it enter the dam.