Malaysia: Penang metal poisoning - Root of the problem still unknown

r. sekaran The Star 27 May 19;

GEORGE TOWN: Metal poisoning along the coastal areas of Teluk Bahang looks to be worsening while the root cause remains unknown.Operators of fish farms along the coast are worried for the survival of marine resources such as sea algae and other plant life, should the content of heavy metal spike further.

Centre for Marine and Coastal Studies (Cemacs) director Prof Datuk Dr Aileen Tan said that two weeks ago, the heavy metal nickel was found to be 944% higher than natural off Penang National Park in Teluk Bahang.

“Now, the level of nickel detected is 1,038% more than natural in the seas near the National Park and 982% at the fish farms in Teluk Bahang.

“It is imperative that the source of the pollution is found immediately as it affects the livelihood of fishermen and is a threat to marine life in the area,” she said in an interview yesterday.

She said lead was found at 184% above normal or 0.804ppm, when it should be only 0.005ppm, while cadmium was 32% higher at 0.065ppm instead of 0.0002ppm.

Prof Tan said the latest readings were recorded last week, following reports by fish farm owners of dying fish possibly due to this phenomenon, though this has yet to be confirmed.

She said the high metal pollution could also be the reason some of the live marine specimens at the Cemacs research lab at the park’s beach were showing signs of stress and dying.

Prof Tan noted that some of the fishermen had filed reports to the Fisheries Department and police upon discovering the dead fish.

“But there are no cases reported of people being poisoned from eating contaminated fish.

“The issue is that it is affecting marine resources rather than humans.

“It does not pose a danger to swimmers other than slight irritation,” she said.

It is learnt that the Department of Environment (DoE) has yet to determine the source of the metal poisoning although it has been over a month since high levels of nickel were detected off the coast of Teluk Bahang.

Both DoE and Penang Island City Council have been unsuccessful in narrowing down the source, including identifying any factory using high levels of nickel in its manufacturing process.

State Environment Committee chairman Phee Boon Poh expressed disappointment, noting that DoE would usually be quick in handling and containing such issues.

“It is puzzling that DoE has not been able to find the source of the pollution.

“We have ruled out dumping by vessels or boats but all efforts are being done to find factories that have been using nickel,” said Phee when contacted.

Serious water pollution in Penang
r. sekaran The Star 28 May 19;

GEORGE TOWN: Penang is facing serious water pollution issues, both on the island and the mainland.

The sea off Teluk Bahang is said to be contaminated by heavy metals while in Nibong Tebal, the water at the Sungai Tengah river mouth is black, a problem fishermen there claim has been plaguing them for about 10 years.

The situation in the north of the island looks far more serious. Weeks ago only a few fish were found dead. Now, fishes are dying by the thousands.

This has deprived fish breeders of their source of income as thousands of ikan kerapu (grouper) are dying in fish cages.

“We use to sell about 500kgs of fish at markets and restaurants during the Chinese New Year and about 100kgs at normal times,” said breeder Lim Suan Gian, 64, at his farm in Teluk Bahang.

“However, we only managed to sell about 40 to 50kgs over the last two months as most of them ended up dead.

“We are baffled. The Fisheries Department took samples of the dead fish several times but as of today, there has been no indication of what caused the deaths,” Lim said, adding that he suffered losses of about RM130,000 since April.

Another breeder, Ooi Hye Hin, 57, said he took up a RM300,000 loan from Agro Bank to buy fish fry and now cannot pay the RM3,000 monthly payments because of this.

“Both Lim and I have made five police reports as we have no other income and are not be able to service our bank loans,” Ooi said.

He said the dead fish at the farms would have to be thrown away while those that were still alive would remain in the cages.

“We have stopped sending our fish supply to customers since April,” he added.

A check by The Star saw a white foam on the water surface surrounding the five fish farms.

There was also the spread of algae blooms in the vicinity.

“We are not experts but the blackish sea water is not oil or mud, as fish would not die because of that,” said breeder Wong Tien Swee, 37.

“The Department of Environment (DoE) and the Fisheries Department must find a solution fast before the entire aquaculture industry in this area goes under” he said.

“Some of my friends have invested about RM15,000 to RM20,000 each in my business.

“Now, I have to tell them their investments are in jeopardy,” said Wong.

Fisheries Department director Noraisyah Abu Bakar said she had written to the Agro Bank, requesting it to extend the date of Ooi’s monthly instalments.

“I understand the predicament of the fish farmers,” she said.

“We have sent samples to our lab but it will take some time before we can determine the cause of death,” Noraisyah said, adding she could confirm if the fish are safe for consumption until then.

Noraisyah added that she was also working closely with Professor Datuk Dr Aileen Tan, the Centre for Marine and Coastal Studies (Cemacs) director.

Prof Tan was the first to discover the high levels of nickel contamination in the seas of Teluk Bahang.

“We just can’t conclude that it was nickel as the DoE needs to confirm the source,” said Noraisyah.

“It would be premature for now to confirm if the fishes were killed due to nickel poisoning.”

Cemacs had reported that the level of nickel was 1,038% more than it should be in the seas near the National Park and 982% higher at the fish farms in Teluk Bahang.

Two weeks ago, Prof Tan said that the Universiti Sains Malaysia’s Chemistry Department discovered nickel in the waters off Teluk Bahang at 0.472 parts per million (ppm), 944% more than the standard 0.005ppm in typical sea water.

She said lead was found at 184% above normal or 0.804ppm, when it should be only 0.0005ppm while cadmium was 32% higher at 0.065ppm instead of 0.002ppm.

State Environment Committee chairman Phee Boon Poh said there were no reports of fishes dying or swimmers being affected by the pollution and the DoE was monitoring the situation.

“We will know the main cause of the issue and the source when the results of tests have been released,” he said.

Low tide reveals contamination in Sungai Tengah
arnold loh The Star 28 May 19;

NIBONG TEBAL: Environ­mentalists who went to plant mangrove trees at the Sungai Tengah river mouth, received a rude shock when they saw pitch black water and an oil slick so thick that it appeared to flow into the sea.

A local NGO said low tide revealed the devastation industrial and agricultural pollution had caused to the river.

“When sea water retreats, nothing is left to hide the blackness of the water and the putrid stench, even near the river mouth,” he said.

Their dismay, however, did not surprise local fisherman Abdul Rahman Ibrahim.

“Groups sometimes come here to plant mangrove seedlings to help the environment,” he said. “The only way to plant them is when the tide is lowest.

“They have to walk on the exposed mudflats, and that’s when you see the pollution,” he added.

The damage, he explained, was not new. It began 10 years ago and has become worse over the years.

“Last time, the sea, just outside the river mouth, was rich in sotong kurita, udang lipan and crabs. Now, there is none.”

Sotong kurita (webfoot octopus) and Udang lipan (mantis prawn) are pricey delicacies found in the high seas.

Abdul Rahman recalled the “good, old days” when it seemed like a festival at sea. Boats would come from Kedah and Perak to join Penang fishermen outside the Sungai Tengah river mouth when the webfoot octopus or mantis prawn would be in season. “They are all gone now,” he said.

“Sometimes, we’ll be amazed to even trap one,” he added.

Appalled, SAM president, the late S.M. Mohamed Idris had issued a press statement late last month, vociferously calling on the authorities not to delay enforcement.

It was one of the last environmental issues Mohamed Idris championed before he died last week.

“SAM believes the state of the river is caused by waste and effluents from palm oil factories, chicken farms and the nearby Pulau Burung landfill.

“The water is pitch black and there is a layer of oil on the surface. Plastic waste is floating everywhere and even lodged into mud at the mangrove swamp,” he had said.

Mohamed Idris had called on the state government, the Seberang Municipal Council, the Department of Environment, the Drainage and Irrigation Department and Veterinary Services Department to use the full might of the law to compel unscrupulous factory owners and farmers to comply with environmental regulations.

Fish breeders in Teluk Bahang suspend business amid pollution
rena lim The Star 29 May 19;

GEORGE TOWN: Fish breeders in Teluk Bahang will temporarily stop buying fish fry after heavy metal contamination in the waters here.

Breeder Ooi Hye Hin, 57, said many of them have suffered losses due to the sea pollution, which caused the death of their fishes.

“We have been scooping up dead fish daily and that has hurt our income as many of us took loans to run our businesses.

“We can only stop our businesses temporarily until the water condition improves. Even then, we will monitor the situation for a month before getting back to breeding.

Ooi said he tried to contact fellow fish farmers at unpolluted areas in hopes of relocating his stock.

“But they were reluctant to lend their spaces. Some were afraid their fish might be affected if we were to relocate ours to theirs.

“We hope authorities will complete their probe quickly and let us know of the outcome,” he added.

Meanwhile, state Environment Committee chairman Phee Boon Poh said investigations were underway to find the pollution’s source.

Meanwhile, Centre for Marine and Coastal Studies (Cemacs) director Professor Datuk Dr Aileen Tan said they will be taking sets of water samples to study.

Tan was the first to find high nickel levels in Teluk Bahang’s waters.