The "Forever Chemical" Footprint in Malaysian Rivers

The contamination of Malaysian rivers is a systemic issue caused by decades of industrial discharge and modern landfill leakage. Because PFAS are virtually indestructible, they persist in our tropical water cycle indefinitely.

• The Landfill "Tea" (Leachate): One of the biggest sources of PFAS in Malaysia is landfill leachate. Older landfills in Selangor, Johor, and Perak often lack modern synthetic liners. As heavy monsoon rains filter through mountains of trash—containing old waterproof jackets, treated upholstery, and electronics—it creates a toxic liquid "tea." Recent 2025 studies show this liquid seeps into the groundwater and flows directly into major arteries like the Langat River.

• The "Sediment Trap" Effect: PFAS are "hydrophobic" (water-fearing) and prefer to stick to organic matter. In the slow-moving downstream sections of rivers like the Klang River, these chemicals settle into the mud at the bottom. During heavy flash floods, this contaminated mud is stirred up (re-suspended), causing sudden, massive spikes in PFAS levels at municipal water intake stations.

• Specific Hotspots: Research in 2024–2025 identified the Klang Valley and Pasir Gudang as having high PFOA/PFOS concentrations. The high density of textile and metal-plating industries in these areas means the riverbed itself has become a long-term reservoir of these chemicals.

Reference:
Assessment of 18 endocrine disrupting chemicals in tap water samples from Klang Valley, Malaysia (2023-2025) 

Urban landfills investigation for leachate assessment in Johor (2025).