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Assessment of Metals Distribution and Microbial Contamination at Selected Lake Waters in and Around Miri City, East Malaysia

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Abstract

A baseline study was carried out to assess the metal concentrations and microbial contamination at selected Lake waters in and around Miri City, East Malaysia. Sixteen surface water samples were collected at specific Lakes in the environs of major settlement areas and recreational centers in Miri City. The Physico-chemical parameters [pH, Electrical Conductivity (EC) and Dissolved Oxygen (DO)], metals (Fe, Mn, Cu, Cd, Ni and Zn) and Escherichia coli (E. coli) were analysed. The concentrations of Fe, Mn and Ni have been found to be above the permissible limits of drinking water quality standards. The metals data have also been used for the calculation of heavy metal pollution index. Higher values of E. coli indicate microbial contamination in the Lake waters.

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Acknowledgments

The authors wish to express thanks to Curtin Sarawak Research Fund (CSRF) for providing necessary financial support to carry out this study. They also thankful to the School of Science and Technology, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia for helping in the metals analysis for the water samples.

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Correspondence to M. V. Prasanna.

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Prasanna, M.V., Nagarajan, R., Chidambaram, S. et al. Assessment of Metals Distribution and Microbial Contamination at Selected Lake Waters in and Around Miri City, East Malaysia. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 89, 507–511 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-012-0698-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-012-0698-4

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