Physico-chemical characterisation and potential health benefit of the Hulu Langat Hot Spring in Selangor, Malaysia

Geotourism is a means in geology that contributes to one of the 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs). One of the key areas in geology that can contribute to geotourism activities is hot spring exploration. This study, therefore explores hot springs in Hulu Langat, Selangor for their potential in...

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Main Authors: Norbert Simon, Tanot Unjah, Muzaffar Yusry, Muhammad Ashahadi Dzulkafli
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Penerbit Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia 2019
Online Access:http://journalarticle.ukm.my/14427/
http://journalarticle.ukm.my/14427/1/15%20Norbert%20Simon.pdf
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author Norbert Simon,
Tanot Unjah,
Muzaffar Yusry,
Muhammad Ashahadi Dzulkafli,
author_facet Norbert Simon,
Tanot Unjah,
Muzaffar Yusry,
Muhammad Ashahadi Dzulkafli,
author_sort Norbert Simon,
building UKM Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description Geotourism is a means in geology that contributes to one of the 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs). One of the key areas in geology that can contribute to geotourism activities is hot spring exploration. This study, therefore explores hot springs in Hulu Langat, Selangor for their potential in geotourism based on their physico-chemical properties and their attributed health benefits potential. These renowned hot springs are Batu 16, Dusun Tua, National Youth Training Institute (IKBN), Sg. Serai, and Sg. Lalang. Despite their popularity among tourists, their health benefits potential remain unclear. Therefore, the physico-chemical properties of these hot springs and their potential health benefits as indicated by the abundance of trace elements in each site will be determined in this study. The temperature (℃), conductivity (μs/cm), total dissolved solid (mg/L), salinity (ppt), dissolved oxygen (mg/L) and pH values of the hot springs have been measured in-situ, and the concentrations of trace elements (Si, Li, Fe, Pb, Mn, Ni, Se, Ag, Na, Zn, K, Mg, Ca, Al, As, Ba, Cd, Cr and Cu) in hot springs water have been determined in the laboratory. Based on the in-situ measurement results, the hot springs are classified according to their pH and temperature. The pH value range from 6.83-8.71 shows that these hot springs are neutral to weak alkaline. The lowest temperature (40.47°C) has been recorded in Dusun Tua hot spring, whereas the highest temperatures (70.41-74.03°C) have been observed in IKBN hot springs. High concentrations of Si, Li, Na, K, As and Cu are found in Batu 16 hot spring. The concentrations of Fe and Ca are higher in Sg. Serai and Sg. Lalang hot springs, and the highest K concentration is found in Dusun Tua hot spring. The other concentration of trace elements are generally low and similar across hot springs. Given the abundance of trace elements, the hot springs could possibly cure certain diseases, such as psoriasis and eczema. The Batu 16, Sg. Serai and Sg Lalang hot springs have the potential to be developed as important sites for health geotourism industries due to the high trace elements concentration. Thus, this study may serve as a basis for further investigations on this aspect.
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spelling oai:generic.eprints.org:144272020-04-01T13:16:13Z http://journalarticle.ukm.my/14427/ Physico-chemical characterisation and potential health benefit of the Hulu Langat Hot Spring in Selangor, Malaysia Norbert Simon, Tanot Unjah, Muzaffar Yusry, Muhammad Ashahadi Dzulkafli, Geotourism is a means in geology that contributes to one of the 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs). One of the key areas in geology that can contribute to geotourism activities is hot spring exploration. This study, therefore explores hot springs in Hulu Langat, Selangor for their potential in geotourism based on their physico-chemical properties and their attributed health benefits potential. These renowned hot springs are Batu 16, Dusun Tua, National Youth Training Institute (IKBN), Sg. Serai, and Sg. Lalang. Despite their popularity among tourists, their health benefits potential remain unclear. Therefore, the physico-chemical properties of these hot springs and their potential health benefits as indicated by the abundance of trace elements in each site will be determined in this study. The temperature (℃), conductivity (μs/cm), total dissolved solid (mg/L), salinity (ppt), dissolved oxygen (mg/L) and pH values of the hot springs have been measured in-situ, and the concentrations of trace elements (Si, Li, Fe, Pb, Mn, Ni, Se, Ag, Na, Zn, K, Mg, Ca, Al, As, Ba, Cd, Cr and Cu) in hot springs water have been determined in the laboratory. Based on the in-situ measurement results, the hot springs are classified according to their pH and temperature. The pH value range from 6.83-8.71 shows that these hot springs are neutral to weak alkaline. The lowest temperature (40.47°C) has been recorded in Dusun Tua hot spring, whereas the highest temperatures (70.41-74.03°C) have been observed in IKBN hot springs. High concentrations of Si, Li, Na, K, As and Cu are found in Batu 16 hot spring. The concentrations of Fe and Ca are higher in Sg. Serai and Sg. Lalang hot springs, and the highest K concentration is found in Dusun Tua hot spring. The other concentration of trace elements are generally low and similar across hot springs. Given the abundance of trace elements, the hot springs could possibly cure certain diseases, such as psoriasis and eczema. The Batu 16, Sg. Serai and Sg Lalang hot springs have the potential to be developed as important sites for health geotourism industries due to the high trace elements concentration. Thus, this study may serve as a basis for further investigations on this aspect. Penerbit Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia 2019-11 Article PeerReviewed application/pdf en http://journalarticle.ukm.my/14427/1/15%20Norbert%20Simon.pdf Norbert Simon, and Tanot Unjah, and Muzaffar Yusry, and Muhammad Ashahadi Dzulkafli, (2019) Physico-chemical characterisation and potential health benefit of the Hulu Langat Hot Spring in Selangor, Malaysia. Sains Malaysiana, 48 (11). pp. 2451-2462. ISSN 0126-6039 http://www.ukm.my/jsm/malay_journals/jilid48bil11_2019/KandunganJilid48Bil11_2019.html
spellingShingle Norbert Simon,
Tanot Unjah,
Muzaffar Yusry,
Muhammad Ashahadi Dzulkafli,
Physico-chemical characterisation and potential health benefit of the Hulu Langat Hot Spring in Selangor, Malaysia
title Physico-chemical characterisation and potential health benefit of the Hulu Langat Hot Spring in Selangor, Malaysia
title_full Physico-chemical characterisation and potential health benefit of the Hulu Langat Hot Spring in Selangor, Malaysia
title_fullStr Physico-chemical characterisation and potential health benefit of the Hulu Langat Hot Spring in Selangor, Malaysia
title_full_unstemmed Physico-chemical characterisation and potential health benefit of the Hulu Langat Hot Spring in Selangor, Malaysia
title_short Physico-chemical characterisation and potential health benefit of the Hulu Langat Hot Spring in Selangor, Malaysia
title_sort physico-chemical characterisation and potential health benefit of the hulu langat hot spring in selangor, malaysia
url http://journalarticle.ukm.my/14427/
http://journalarticle.ukm.my/14427/
http://journalarticle.ukm.my/14427/1/15%20Norbert%20Simon.pdf