Expert: Metal toxicity at sea is harming marine life

From right: Centre for Marine and Coastal Studies (Cemacs) senior science officer Sim Yee Kwang, senior science officer Masthurah Abdullah and research officer Nithiyaa Nilamani taking water samples and readings from the sea off Teluk Bahang, Penang.

GEORGE TOWN: The heavy metal nickel – in a concentration 944% higher than natural – has been found in the sea off Penang National Park in Teluk Bahang.

It is identified as the probable pollutant that led to anoxic or dead zones with hardly any dissolved oxygen (DO) along the island’s north coast since last month and may also be killing live marine specimens in a research lab at the park’s beach.