VOL. 9, NO. 12, DECEMBER 2014 ISSN 1819-6608 ARPN Journal of Engineering and Applied Sciences ©2006-2014 Asian Research Publishing Network (ARPN). All rights reserved. www.arpnjournals.com 1 AN ASSESSMENT OF SELECTED HEAVY METAL CONCENTRATIONS (Pb, Cu, Cr, Cd, Ni, Zn) IN UNIVERSITY CAMPUS LOCATED IN INDUSTRIAL AREA Radin Maya Saphira Radin Mohamed, Farah Hanim Binti Che Aziz and Amir Hashim Mohd. Kassim Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Universiti Tun Hussien Onn Malaysia, Locked Bag, Parit Raja, Batu Pahat, Johor, Malaysia E-Mail: radinmayasaphira@gmail.com ABSTRACT An investigation was conducted to examine the variation trend of heavy metal concentration and distribution in ambient air in university campus located in the industrial area. The aim of this study was to measure the concentration of heavy metals of concern (lead (Pb), copper (Cu), chromium (Cr), cadmium (Cd), nickel (Ni) and zinc (Zn) composition). The heavy metals were chosen based on the types of industry. Three sampling points were set up according to the distance from the industrial area. The sampling points were located at the Convocation Hall (3, 000m), Tun Dr. Ismail Residential College (390 m), and the Material Laboratory (10 m) in the Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM) campus, and all of the locations were in the Parit Raja industrial area. Heavy metals particulates were sampled from the E-Sampler Particulate Matter (PM 10 ) Collector (Met One Instrument, Inc) in 24 h period for samplings of October 2013 to Jun 2014. Determination of heavy metals concentrations was conducted using two instruments; Atomic Absorption Spectrometer (AAS) (Perkin Elmer Elan 900) and Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) (Perkin Elmer AAnalyst 800). The analysis was performed after the filter paper was digested using aqua regia method. The relationship between metrological factor and concentration of heavy metal s were clarified using Pearson’s correlation coefficient. The data were compared to the air quality standards by the World Health Organization Health (WHO), the Ambient Air Quality Criteria Act 1994 (AAQC), the National Environment Protection Council (NEPS), Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), and also the Environmental Quality Act 1974 (EQA). It was found that the concentrations of Cr, Cd, and Ni exceeded the standard concentrations which were 0.0100 μg/m³, 0.0050 μg/m³ and 0.0150 μg/m³, respectively. In contrast, Pb, Cu, and Zn in ambient air had low concentration compared to the standard, which were 0.500 μg/m³, 1.0000 μg/m³ and 1000 μg/m³, respectively. Generally the nearest distance of sampling site to the industrial area was indicated high levels of heavy metals. This finding is significant in contributing some knowledge of the heavy metals concentration in ambient air to communities surrounded by an industrial district. It identifies research needs and suggests possible approaches to addressing outstanding questions. Keywords: heavy metals, air quality, ICP-MS, AAS, industrial area. INTRODUCTION Intensive anthropogenic activities are caused by the high density in population, where population will produce a large number of heavy metal sources that have considerable influence on human health [1-2]. Some of the major sources that emit heavy metals into ambient air and its surroundings are domestic, transportation, and industrial wastes. Several researchers have sought the assessment of heavy metals in ambient air as affected from various activities. A research in Coimbatore city, India was found that the level of heavy metal was significantly high and extensive research is needed to relate the possible factors and its consequences [3]. The research conducted in Shanghai Nanjing Expressway and industrial area in Balakong, Malaysia had proven that the main pollutants were Zn and Pb [4-5]. In the Howard University, Washington, the concentrations of Pb were 137 ng/m³, which might be contributed from the vehicles in the university itself [6]. Also, in Greece, research indicates that the concentrations of Cd, Pb and Ni during summer were 1.06 μg/m³, 12.23 μg/m³ and 13.3 μg/m³ respectively [7]. As one of the Southeast Asian nations, Malaysia is considered as new in the industrialized sector [8-9]. Even though the development of industries in Malaysia gives a great benefit to the Malaysian economy, but it is also a major source of pollution towards the environment. Pb, Cu, Cr, Cd and Ni are several general types of pollutants that are being emitted by factories. A study was conducted by Sulaiman (2006) in Balakong in order to determine the concentration and composition of heavy metals of PM 10 for indoor and outdoor air quality. The outdoor air quality for two factories was differentiated according to the smoke activities. For Factory 1 that produced smoke, 91.92 mg/m 3 and 0.30 mg/m 3 of Zn and Cr were detected respectively. Meanwhile, for Factory 2 that did not produce smoke, there was no Zn and Cr undetected in the outdoor air. Therefore, industrial district is indeed responsible for the phenomena of air pollution that occur nowadays. It is very important to study the concentration of heavy metals in ambient air in order to determine the level of air quality. As Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM) campus is located nearby an industrial area, it has raised the concern of air quality towards students and