Comprehensive assessment of water and sediment quality to support sustainable management practices and mitigate potential risks of trace metal pollution in the Johor River Basin, South Peninsular Malaysia

Human activities have caused concerns over the contamination of trace elements in aquatic systems due to their toxicity, long-lasting nature, and ability to accumulate in living organisms. This study evaluated the spatial pattern, environmental hazard, and potential health hazard of 13 trace metals in water and sediment samples collected from the Johor River basin using multivariate statistical techniques in order to identify the impact of both natural and human-related factors on the presence of trace metals in the area. The increased levels of metals in Station S1 indicated a significant impact from municipal, domestic, and industrial waste. The Geo-accumulation Index (I_geo) values for pollution and ecological indices in the sediment of the Johor River Basin ranged from -9.44 to 6.27. The Pollution Load Index (PLI) values ranged from 0.05 to 0.18, and the Potential Ecological Risk Assessment (RI) values ranged from 2.15 to 11.18. These results indicate that the sediments in the Johor River Basin have a low risk of contamination from trace metals. The water's hazard quotient (HQ) had an average value of 0.0001, while the hazard index (HI) had an average value of 0.0003. It is important to increase stakeholders' understanding and concerns regarding the potential long-term human health and ecological implications associated with trace metals in Johor River water. The results of this study offer essential initial information for government entities to implement sustainable management strategies, reducing the likelihood of future trace metal contamination issues in the Johor River basin and similar regions.