HEAVY METAL SPECIATION IN SEDIMENTS IN SAGULING LAKE WEST JAVA INDONESIA

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to assess the chemical speciation of selected heavy metals (Cd, Cr,
Cu, and Pb) in 12 surface sediments at Saguling Lake West Java Indonesia. A five-step sequential extraction
technique was used to evaluate speciation heavy metals from Saguling Lake surface sediments. A risk
assessment code (RAC) was applied to estimate the risk of heavy metals release in to the environment. The total
mean value of heavy metals in surface sediment varied in the following descending order Cr>Cu>Cd>Pb. Based
on the RAC value the sediments of Saguling Lake had been polluted by heavy metals, and they did pose medium
ecological risk. The information on total metal concentrations in sediment was not sufficient for assessing the
metal behavior in the environment, but metal speciation greatly determines the behaviors and toxicity of metals
in the environment so it was more effective in estimating the environmental impact of contaminated sediments.