Seasonal distribution and geochemical fractionation of heavy metals from surface sediment in a tropical estuary of Jeneberang River, Indonesia

• Distribution of total metal and geochemical fractionation at tropical Jeneberang River estuary were different during wet and dry season.
• Potential anthropogenic sources of heavy metals in Jeneberang River estuary derived from marine sources.
• Potential hazards of heavy metals to marine biota were found from labile fraction in area study.

Lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn) concentrations from surface sediments were determined at 17 stations in riverine, estuarine, and marine environments during the wet and dry seasons. The geochemical fractionations were obtained by a sequential extraction procedure in five geochemical forms: exchangeable, bound to carbonate, iron–manganese oxide, organic, and residual fractions. The concentrations of Pb and Zn in the water were higher during the wet season than the dry season and higher in the riverine and marine samples than the estuarine samples. Following geochemical fractionation, the metals were found mainly in the residual fraction. The results indicated that the concentrations were influenced by season, with the sources of Pb and Zn derived mainly from rivers and natural sources. The contamination status in the estuary of the Jeneberang River was classified as weak to moderate pollution and the risk level to aquatic biota attributed was no risk to low risk.