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Updated: May 25, 2026

Clean Sampling and Analysis of River and Estuarine Waters for Trace Metal Studies
Published on: July 1, 2016
Major inorganic elements in tap water samples in Peninsular Malaysia
A Azrina1, H E Khoo, M A Idris
1Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia. azrina@medic.upm.edu.my
Introduction:
Quality drinking water should be free from harmful levels of impurities such as heavy metals and other inorganic elements.
Methods:
Samples of tap water collected from 24 locations in Peninsular Malaysia were determined for inorganic element content. Minerals and heavy metals were analysed by spectroscopy methods, while non-metal elements were analysed using test kits.
Results:
Minerals and heavy metals determined were sodium, magnesium, potassium, calcium, chromium, manganese, iron, nickel, copper, zinc, arsenic, cadmium and lead while the non-metal elements were fluoride, chloride, nitrate and sulphate. Most of the inorganic elements found in the samples were below the maximum permitted levels recommended by inter-national drinking water standard limits, except for iron and manganese. Iron concentration of tap water from one of the locations was higher than the standard limit.
Conclusion:
In general, tap water from different parts of Peninsular Malaysia had low concentrations of heavy metals and inorganic elements.
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