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Heavy Metals in Mangrove Surface Sediment of Mengkabong Lagoon, Sabah: Multivariate and Geo-Accumulation Index Approaches.

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The inter-tidal mangrove environment of Mengkabong lagoon is important as it supports the local fishing activities, nursery grounds for many fish and shellfish species, and as wellas beingcentral for ecotourism activities. The study showed that in general, the physicochemical parameters (pH, salinity and electrical conductivity), granulometric fractions, organic matter, base cations (Na, K, Ca and Mg) and heavy metals (Fe, Cu, Pb, Zn and AI)showed increasing loadings at high tide compared to low tide. Multivariate statistical techniques, principal components analysis (PCA) and cluster analysis (CA), were employed to better interpret information about the sediment and its controlling factors. The PCA results revealedsix controlling factors at high tide while seven at low tide. InCAthere are twodistrict clusterswere identifiedat high and lowtides. The calculation of geoaccumulation index (l geo) suggests the Mengkabong mangrove sediments are having background concentrations for AI, Cu, Fe, and Zn and unpolluted for Pb.

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