A study of arsenic contamination by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry in the Lami estuary in Fiji

The Suva–Lami coastal environment in Fiji is submitted to intense heavy metal input from land-based industrial activities. Therefore, continuous environmental monitoring is required in order to develop and implement environmental management programs for the Suva Lagoon. Current ongoing research includes investigation and monitoring of the short and long-term variation of several heavy metals in the sediments of Suva and Lami coastal environments based on the observations from past similar studies. This study, for the first time, reports the incidence of high arsenic (As) contamination in the sediments of the Lami estuary. The short term variations in the concentrations of As in Lami estuary were in the range of 1.0–334.0 mg kg−1 (dry weight), which ascended gradually over a period of one year. A literature survey showed that this is the highest As contaminated site as compared to other studied sites in Fiji. The results indicate that immediate corrective waste management measures have to be practiced by the industrial community to lessen the impact of toxic metal loading in these vital areas of community life.