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Assessment of Heavy Metals Pollution and Microbial Contaminants in Dust
Collected from Selected Primary Schools
Nur Syamimi Iwani Binti Mohammad Azlan
Supervisor: Dr. Noorlin Binti Mohamad
Co-Supervisor: Dr. Suvik A/L Assaw
Bachelor of Technology (Environment)
School of Ocean Engineering
Universiti Malaysia Terengganu
Very fine particles (settled dust) are able to travel deeply into the respiratory tract and
can affect children’s health. This study investigates the metals concentration and their
sources as well as microbial contaminants in the settled dust of three primary schools
in Kuala Terengganu. Samples were analysed for elemental concentrations using
Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES). In order to
evaluate anthropogenic influences in dust, the enrichment factor (EF) was used.
Microbial contaminant was determined through Gram staining method to identify the
genus bacteria. The metals concentration in each school decreased in the order of
Fe>Al>Zn>Mn>Pb>Cu>Ni>Cd>As> Mo>Sr>Co. The highest EF value was recorded
for Cd at 230.06 particle (size d = 125 µm) to indicate that the element come from
anthropogenic sources. Meanwhile, the dust samples were dominated by Gram
positive bacteria.
77 | U M T U N D E R G R A D U A T E R E S E A R C H D A Y 2019