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Heavy Metals Pollution in Drinking Water Sources: A Case Study from Kulim Hi-Tech Park, Malaysia

JURNAL KESEHATAN LINGKUNGAN (Journal of Environmental Health) · Vol. 17 No. 3 (2025) · pp. 256–267

DOI
10.20473/jkl.v17i3.2025.256-267
ISSN
2540-881X, 1829-7285
Published
2025-07-28
Publisher
Universitas Airlangga
Language
eng
License
creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0

Abstract

Introduction: Heavy metal content within drinking water poses significant risks to health and the environment. Given industrial impact on Kulim’s water quality, this study determined the concentrations of iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn), cadmium (Cd), and nickel (Ni) in various water sources around Kulim Hi-Tech Park (KHTP) and assess associated with chronic heath risks. Methods: We measured these five heavy metals in 30 water samples from tap water, rivers, and ponds, within and around Kulim Hi-Tech Park (KHTP), using Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy. Non-carcinogenic risk was assessed by calculating Hazard Quotient (HQ) and Hazard Index (HI), while carcinogenic risk used Excess Lifetime Cancer Risk (ELCR). Results and Discussion: Mean concentrations averaged between 0.0177 ± 0.0017 mg/L and 0.8652 ± 0.0606 mg/L; nickel showed the highest mean, followed by iron, zinc, manganese, and cadmium. Notably, concentrations of nickel, and in some instances iron and cadmium, exceeded regulatory limits. HQ and HI suggested no immediate adverse health effects from exposure to iron, manganese, and zinc. However, ELCR values for cadmium and nickel surpassed acceptable levels, indicating potential carcinogenic risks from long-term exposure. It is important to note that risk assessment for iron, manganese, and zinc is based on mean concentrations that include proportion of samples below the Limit of Quantification (LOQ), warranting cautious interpretation. Conclusion: This study provides crucial baseline data on heavy metals in KHTP water resources, underscores more investigation and potential remediation strategies to safeguard public and environmental health.

Keywords

Collaboration network of the authors

40 authors · 125 co-authorship links · 2 across different organisations · showing the 40 most connected

Hover or tap a name to highlight its co-authors. Double-click to open the author's page.

  • Universitas Airlangga
  • Universiti Putra Malaysia
  • Universitas Bhakti Kencana
  • Affiliation unknown
  • Different organisations
  • Same organisation
  • Affiliation unknown
  • Thicker line = more joint articles · bigger circle = more articles
Show as table
Co-authorOrganisationJoint articles
Juliana JalaludinUniversiti Putra Malaysia2
Syamsiar S. RussengAffiliation unknown2
Eshaifol Azam OmarAffiliation unknown2
Nor Effa Syazuli ZulkafliAffiliation unknown2
Suherdin SuherdinUniversitas Bhakti Kencana1
Rahmadani RahmadaniAffiliation unknown1
Nur Izzah Ismahani IsmanAffiliation unknown1
Nur Faseeha SuhaimiAffiliation unknown1
Fahimah HashimAffiliation unknown1
Tri MartianaAffiliation unknown1
Isna FadilaAffiliation unknown1
Arya Zulfikar ParamartaAffiliation unknown1
Nurul Izzah Abdul SamadAffiliation unknown1
Anis Adiba AdnanAffiliation unknown1
Nursuhaili Mohd AminAffiliation unknown1
Nurul Atikah Che HasanAffiliation unknown1
Nurhidayah SabriAffiliation unknown1
Herdianti HattaAffiliation unknown1
Nurul Ainun HamzahAffiliation unknown1
Rezania AsyfiradayatiAffiliation unknown1
Siti Rohana Mohd YatimAffiliation unknown1
Huda Abdul SalamAffiliation unknown1
Nur Azalina Suzianti FeisalAffiliation unknown1
Nadiah Wan RasdiAffiliation unknown1
Abdullah Al-MamunAffiliation unknown1
Nur Anisah RahmawatiAffiliation unknown1
Tofan Agung Eka PrasetyaAffiliation unknown1
Herman Bagus DwicahyoAffiliation unknown1
Mardliyatus SholihahAffiliation unknown1
Aristy Yulanda AmbaraniAffiliation unknown1

Affiliations come from OpenAlex; journal OAI-PMH metadata carries none. Authors without an OpenAlex ID are matched by name, which can merge or split people.

Metadata source: OAI-PMH (metadata jurnal) https://e-journal.unair.ac.id/JKL/oai, first harvested 9 Nov 2026, last seen 9 Nov 2026.
Original metadata (oai_dc) 
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	<dc:title xml:lang="en-US">Heavy Metals Pollution in Drinking Water Sources: A Case Study from Kulim Hi-Tech Park, Malaysia</dc:title>
	<dc:creator>Zainon, Muhamad Radzi</dc:creator>
	<dc:creator>Aziz, Mohd Yusmaidie</dc:creator>
	<dc:creator>Ishak, Ahmad Razali</dc:creator>
	<dc:creator>Abdullah, Muhamad Azwat</dc:creator>
	<dc:creator> Tualeka, Abdul Rohim</dc:creator>
	<dc:creator>Mohamed, Rafeezul</dc:creator>
	<dc:creator>Edinur, Hisham Atan</dc:creator>
	<dc:creator>Mualif, Siti Aisyah</dc:creator>
	<dc:creator>Zabidi, Muhammad Azrul</dc:creator>
	<dc:creator>Waras, Maisarah Nasution</dc:creator>
	<dc:subject xml:lang="en-US">Drinking Water</dc:subject>
	<dc:subject xml:lang="en-US">Hazard Quotient</dc:subject>
	<dc:subject xml:lang="en-US"> Health risk</dc:subject>
	<dc:subject xml:lang="en-US">Heavy Metals</dc:subject>
	<dc:subject xml:lang="en-US">Spectroscopy</dc:subject>
	<dc:description xml:lang="en-US">Introduction: Heavy metal content within drinking water poses significant risks to health and the environment. Given industrial impact on Kulim’s water quality, this study determined the concentrations of iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn), cadmium (Cd), and nickel (Ni) in various water sources around Kulim Hi-Tech Park (KHTP) and assess associated with chronic heath risks. Methods: We measured these five heavy metals in 30 water samples from tap water, rivers, and ponds, within and around Kulim Hi-Tech Park (KHTP), using Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy. Non-carcinogenic risk was assessed by calculating Hazard Quotient (HQ) and Hazard Index (HI), while carcinogenic risk used Excess Lifetime Cancer Risk (ELCR). Results and Discussion: Mean concentrations averaged between 0.0177 ± 0.0017 mg/L and 0.8652 ± 0.0606 mg/L; nickel showed the highest mean, followed by iron, zinc, manganese, and cadmium. Notably, concentrations of nickel, and in some instances iron and cadmium, exceeded regulatory limits. HQ and HI suggested no immediate adverse health effects from exposure to iron, manganese, and zinc. However, ELCR values for cadmium and nickel surpassed acceptable levels, indicating potential carcinogenic risks from long-term exposure. It is important to note that risk assessment for iron, manganese, and zinc is based on mean concentrations that include proportion of samples below the Limit of Quantification (LOQ), warranting cautious interpretation. Conclusion: This study provides crucial baseline data on heavy metals in KHTP water resources, underscores more investigation and potential remediation strategies to safeguard public and environmental health.</dc:description>
	<dc:publisher xml:lang="en-US">Universitas Airlangga</dc:publisher>
	<dc:date>2025-07-28</dc:date>
	<dc:type>info:eu-repo/semantics/article</dc:type>
	<dc:type>info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion</dc:type>
	<dc:format>text/xml</dc:format>
	<dc:format>application/pdf</dc:format>
	<dc:identifier>https://e-journal.unair.ac.id/JKL/article/view/72020</dc:identifier>
	<dc:identifier>10.20473/jkl.v17i3.2025.256-267</dc:identifier>
	<dc:source xml:lang="en-US">JURNAL KESEHATAN LINGKUNGAN ; Vol. 17 No. 3 (2025): JURNAL KESEHATAN LINGKUNGAN; 256-267</dc:source>
	<dc:source>2540-881X</dc:source>
	<dc:source>1829-7285</dc:source>
	<dc:language>eng</dc:language>
	<dc:relation>https://e-journal.unair.ac.id/JKL/article/view/72020/33835</dc:relation>
	<dc:relation>https://e-journal.unair.ac.id/JKL/article/view/72020/33464</dc:relation>
	<dc:rights xml:lang="en-US">http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0</dc:rights>
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