Document Type : Original Research Paper

Authors

• Triyani Dewi ¹
• Zakirah Raihani Ya’la ²
• Ali Husni ¹
• Tri Joko Santoso ¹
• Samliok Ndobe ²
• Eka Rosyida ³
• Maemunah Maemunah ⁴
• Marhawati Mappatoba ⁴
• Muhammad Saleh Nurdin ⁵

¹ Research Organization for Agriculture and Food, National Research and Innovation Agency, Bogor 16915, West Java, Indonesia

² Department of Marine Science, Faculty of Animal Husbandry and Fisheries, Tadulako University, Palu 94118, Central Sulawesi, Indonesia

³ Department of Aquaculture, Faculty of Animal Husbandry and Fisheries, Tadulako University, Palu 94148, Indonesia

⁴ Faculty of Agriculture, Tadulako University, Palu 94118, Central Sulawesi, Indonesia

⁵ Aquatic Resources, Faculty of Animal Husbandry and Fisheries, Tadulako University, Palu 94118, Central Sulawesi, Indonesia

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine heavy metal concentrations in sediments, assess the level of contamination using a contamination index, and identify potential sources of heavy metal contamination using multivariate analysis. This study employed contamination indices to evaluate sediment pollution levels. Heavy metal concentrations were analyzed statistically by determining the minimum, maximum, mean, and standard deviation (SD) values. According to the contamination factor (Cf), Cd showed very high contamination levels, whereas Sn, Ni, and Pb indicated moderate contamination. Hg, As, Cr, and Cu were classified as having low levels of contamination. The degree of contamination (Cdeg) ranged from low to high across the sampled sites, reflecting the varied levels of pollution severity. Multivariate statistical analyses, including Principal Component Analysis (PCA), Pearson correlation matrix, and Cluster Analysis (CA), were used to identify potential sources of heavy metal contamination. Cu, Sn, Ni, Hg, and Cr are attributed to natural geological processes, whereas Pb, Cd, and As are linked to anthropogenic activities, likely originating from the nickel mining industry. In conclusion, this study underscores the complex environmental impact of nickel mining in Morowali, highlighting the need for stringent environmental management practices to mitigate further degradation and safeguard the coastal ecosystems in Central Sulawesi.

Keywords

• contamination index
• heavy metals
• multivariate analysis
• nickel mining
• sediment

Main Subjects

• Environmental Management