Cooperative Research on Geochemistry of the Klang River Estuary, Malaysia

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This proposal requests funds for continuation, for a period of 24 months, the cooperative research by Dr. Bruce W. Nelson, Professor of Environmental Sciences, University of Virginia, and Dr. Zelina Ibrahim, Department of Environmental Sciences, Universiti Pertanian Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia, on the geochemistry of the Klang River estuary, begun under NSF Grant No. INT8411319. Their study will provide new kinds of information on a tropical estuarine system and the processes that govern element behavior in estuaries. The research will include a study of the behavior of silica and trace metals in the freshwater-saltwater mixing zone. Previous research results show that a limited range of pollutants is concentrated in the sediments of the estuary. An attempt will be made to determine if these pollutants are easily incorporated into the food chain, reach the sea, and are factors in marine pollution. The role of adsorption and desorption of silica as a function of salinity in the mixing zone and transport to the sea also will be studied. The U.S. and Malaysian collaborators are highly respected scientists whose past collaboration has resulted in a number of publications. This project is relevant to the objectives of the Science in Developing Countries Program which seeks to increase the level of cooperation between U.S. scientists and engineers and their counterparts in developing countries through the exchange of scientific information, ideas, skills, and techniques and through collaboration on problems of mutual benefit.