Heavy Metals in Neuston from the Straits of Malacca

Heavy metals cadmium, lead, copper and zinc in neuston were analyzed from samples collected with a modified neuston net (310 μm mesh size) during an oceanographic cruise from July 29 to August 8, 2000 in the Straits of Malacca. The period of sampling coincided with South-West (SW) monsoon. The heavy metal concentrations in neuston were relatively low: ranging from 1.19-1013.70 μg g-1 wet weight for copper, 16.54-235.78 μg g-1 wet weight for zinc, 3.92-36.08 μg g-1 wet weight for lead and from 0.32-4.09 μg g-1 wet weight for cadmium. The heavy metal concentrations in neuston in this study were within the ranges published elsewhere, except for cadmium, there were significant differences (p <0.05) in concentrations of Cu, Pb and Zn between northern, central and southern parts of the Straits. However, concentrations of Cu and Zn were significantly (p 0.05). The presence of two groups of stations with high and low heavy metal concentration as revealed by multivariate analyses corresponded mostly to near-coastal and neritic waters, respectively.