Pollution level of trace metals (As, Pb, Cr and Cd) in the sediment of Rupsha River, Bangladesh: Assessment of ecological and human health risks

Abstract

The study area was selected in the Rupsha river basin and the sediment samples were collected to determine trace metal concentrations of As, Pb, Cd, and Cr along with biological effects, and potential ecological and human health hazards for adults and children. The concentrations of trace metals were detected from sixty composite sediment samples using an Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS) following some sequential analytical procedures. The mean concentrations of trace metals were organized in the descending order of chromium (Cr) (43.2 mg/kg) > lead (Pb) (29.21 mg/kg) > arsenic (As) (5.18 mg/kg) > cadmium (Cd) (1.8 mg/kg). The current study highlighted that metals were attributed to the riverine sediments from natural sources and other anthropogenic sources, particularly from various industries. Based on the effect-range classifications of threshold effect concentration (TEC) and probable effect concentration (PEC), the trace metal concentrations can impact on the sediment-dwelling organisms occasionally especially for Cr, Cd, and Pb. That is, the concentrations had negative biological consequences on aquatic creatures. The assessed potential ecological risk of Cd offers a significant risk to the aquatic ecosystem, whereas As, Cr, and Cd were in low-risk. Most of the sites of the study area were within the range of moderate risk, indicated by the risk index (RI) values. Furthermore, the applied sediment quality indices, geo-accumulation index (Igeo) indicated that sediment was contaminated by Cd whereas contamination factor (CF) denoted that the sediment of the study area was moderately polluted by Pb. However, pollution load index (PLI) revealed that the study area was polluted for cumulative sence especially in winter season. The age-group risk index (HI) was much lower than the threshold limit of 1, showing that the pollution had no non-carcinogenic risk effect. Total carcinogenic risk (TCR) was less than one-tenth of a percentile. For the sake of human and environmental health, proper monitoring of metal element attribution and strict regulation are required to lessen trace metal pollution.

Ecological and public health risk assessment of potentially toxic elements in the surface sediments of the Pasur river estuary, Bangladesh

“…However, the I geo value of Cr, As, Cu and Zn indicated uncontamination ( I geo < 0) state of the sediments of all the studied sites except for S1 and S2. The present finding is similar to the findings of Kubra et al [ 26 ] who reported the mean value of As and Cr was (0< I geo ) responsible for uncontamination and the mean value of Pb (winter) and Cd was ( I geo >0) responsible for moderately contamination of the Rupsha River. Consequently, Cd was responsible for the contamination of Mongla port area during wet season and major contributors for maximum Pb and Cd values might be atmospheric pollution, petroleum, municipal wastes, and discarded materials from the port region which supports the findings Chakraborty et al [ 25 ].…”

“…5 ). The PLI values were akin to the findings of Kubra et al [ 26 ] in the Rupsha River. The mean PLI value during the present study was recorded as 0.659 which was much lower compared to the results of Chakraborty et al [ 25 ] as they recorded the mean PLI values of 1.26 and 1.97 during the rainy and dry season, respectively from the surface sediments of the Mongla port area, Bangladesh.…”

“…Several sediment value indicators are used to the evaluation of pollution in an aquatic habitat [ 24 ]. The enrichment factor (EF), contamination factor (CF), and geo-accumulation index (Igeo) quantify sediment pollution [ 23 , 25 , 26 ]. Furthermore, the pollutant load index (PLI) and potential ecological risk index (PERI) have been established to measure the combined hazard of a large number of PTEs in sediment [ 23 , 27 ].…”

“…Although a few studies have highlighted the river's ecological danger status [ 23 , 23 ], more extensive study is required to assess the current pollution level. Furthermore, several studies have been done to determine the levels of PTEs pollution in Bangladesh's rivers and estuaries [ 23 , 25 , 26 , 34 ]. However, the evidence on the harm caused by the river's polluted material is insufficient.…”

Distribution, sources, and pollution levels of toxic metal(loid)s in an urban river (Ichamati), Bangladesh using SOM and PMF modeling with GIS tool

“…Rivers play a vital role in the water cycle and are one of the world's most important suppliers of freshwater and nutrients (Kubra et al 2022). In the river, flora and fauna can accumulate toxic metal(loid)s from different sources, which may end up after penetrating the human body through the food chain and create serious health disorders (Qiu 2015;Zhang et al 2019).…”