TITLE:
Spatial Variations of Sediment Quality in Coastal Waters of Kudat, Sabah, Malaysia
AUTHORS:
Sujjat Al Azad, Mezzy Rynee Romin, Ejria Saleh
KEYWORDS:
Sediment, Particle Sizes, Organic Carbon, Nitrogen, Phosphorus
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Geoscience and Environment Protection,
Vol.13 No.12,
December
4,
2025
ABSTRACT: Coastal ecosystem is complex as it is controlled by unique physical, chemical, biological, as well as geological processes. Coastal areas of Kudat, Sabah are dominated by a community of artisanal fishers. The increasing trend of human populations and development leads to a substantial amount of nutrients as well as anthropogenic wastes which ultimately settle as sediments. The present study was undertaken to determine the physicochemical characteristics of sediment in the coastal area of Kudat. Surface sediment samples were collected from five selected locations for a period of 12 (twelve) months to identify the particle sizes and to determine total organic matter (%), total phosphorus (%), and total nitrogen (%). Sediment texture of the sampling stations in coastal areas of Kudat was mostly sand (2 mm to 125 µm) with 79.69% and silt clay (63 µm to p > 0.05) differences among those parameters except for the concentration of total nitrogen (TN) in Kudat’s coastal water. Significant differences were observed in the values of total nitrogen among the locations, indicating the human-induced activities in the areas. Sediment characteristics from different locations are the consequences of a diversified ecosystem in the Kudat areas. Drainage of waste and other anthropogenic activities need to be monitored regularly for a healthy ecosystem in Kudat areas.