Investigation of the possible sources of heavy metal contamination in lagoon and canal water in the tannery industrial area in Dhaka, Bangladesh

Abstract

This study evaluated the heavy metal pollution level of tannery effluent-affected lagoon and canal water in the southwestern Dhaka, Bangladesh. The measured physicochemical parameters (electrical conductivity, chemical oxygen demand, pH, SO²⁻₄, PO³⁻₄, Cl-, and NO⁻₃) and metals (As, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn) were subjected to principal component (PCA) and hierarchical cluster analyses, and examining correlation matrix as well in order to explain the behavior and sources of the parameters/metals. The mean concentrations of the heavy metals in the lagoon and canal water were very high and, in most cases, exceeded the standard limits recommended by the Bangladesh Government. The following elemental associations were obtained from PCA and CA: Ca-Cd-Cr-Fe-K-Mn-Pb-Zn, Co-Cu-Ni, and As, which could be linked to anthropogenic sources (i.e., processes of the tannery and paint industries with some contributions from the municipal waste system). Potassium, Ca, Cr, Mn, Fe, Zn, As, and Cd occurred as important anthropogenic markers in the lagoons and lower part of the canal. Copper, Co, and Ni were importantly distributed in the lower part of the canal, which also received metal inputs from the municipal waste and other industrial sources, including paint industry. GIS-based factor score maps, generated to show the spatial controls of the major processes affecting surface water hydrochemistry, suggest that the activities of paint and tannery industries and municipal sewage are pervasive processes in the area, whereas the contribution from pesticides (used for tanning and disinfecting hides) has localized effects. This study has provided the evidence that effluents discharged from the tannery and auxiliary industries and urban sewage system are the main sources of heavy metal pollution in the lagoon and canal water systems in the Hazaribagh area of southwestern Dhaka. The high mean concentrations (in mg/l) of Cr (5.27), Pb (0.81), As (0.59), and Cd (0.13) observed in the water samples may have serious public health and potential environmental hazard implications.

Assessment of Heavy Metal Contamination of Agricultural Soil around Dhaka Export Processing Zone (DEPZ), Bangladesh: Implication of Seasonal Variation and Indices

“…Although some trace elements are essential in plant nutrition, plants growing in the close vicinity of industrial areas display increased concentration of heavy metals, serving in many cases as biomonitors of pollution loads [3]. Vegetables cultivated in soils polluted with toxic and heavy metals take up such metals and accumulate them in their edible and non-edible parts in quantities high enough to cause clinical problems both to animals and human beings consuming these metal-rich plants as there is no good mechanism for their elimination from the human body [4][5][6]. Toxic metals are known to have serious health implications, including carcinogenesis induced tumor promotion, and hence the growing consciousness about the health risks associated with environmental chemicals has brought a major shift in global concern towards prevention of heavy metal accumulation in soil, water and vegetables [7,8].…”

Flame atomic absorption spectrometric determination of heavy metals in aqueous solution and surface water preceded by co-precipitation procedure with copper(II) 8-hydroxyquinoline

“…This anthropogenic activity could also be responsible for high lead concentration of 0.04 ± 0.03 lg/mL obtained in Lagos lagoon water (Table 6). The heavy metal pollution load of tannery effluent-impacted lagoon in Southwestern Dhaka, Bangladesh has been reported (Bhuiyan et al 2011). The mean concentration of Cr(5.27 lg/mL), Pb(0.81 lg/mL), Cd(0.13 lg/mL) in the lagoon water were observed to be high and could have public health and potential environmental implications.…”

Evaluation of Heavy Metal Pollution and Risk Assessment of Dietary Intake of Pollutants in Chinese Mitten Crab (Eriocheir Sinensis) in Main Aquaculture Areas of Northeast China

“…With the rapid development of industrialization and urbanization, the discharge of waste gas, waste water and waste residue containing heavy metals has greatly increased (Bhuiyan et al, 2011;Khillare et al, 2012;Rahman et al, 2014). Increasing attention has been paid to the human health risks caused by the release of these contaminants.…”