Geochemical distribution and behaviour of mercury and arsenic in the Brunei-Muara District, Brunei Darussalam

Abstract

Abstract Both mercury and arsenic are toxic elements which can affect human health and ecosystems negatively. Monoelemental geochemical maps were constructed to identify the spatial distribution of both mercury and arsenic in Brunei Muara District of Brunei Darussalam. This paper is a product of a pilot project aiming at constructing the geochemical atlas of Brunei Darussalam. Extensive field work and sampling enabled us to collect 187 subsoil samples with a sampling density of 1 km2. Both mercury and arsenic were analyzed in the fine fraction and the relevant geochemical maps were constructed and correlated with the geological, land use and different vegetation types maps of Brunei Darussalam. Certain anomalies observed on heat maps can be linked to anthropogenic activities in industrial and urbanised areas, as well as to analyze mobility of these elements due to natural phenomena and different types of soils.