Heavy metal contamination and ecological risk assessment in water and sediments of the Halda river, Bangladesh: A natural fish breeding ground

Mar Pollut Bull. 2020 Nov:160:111649. doi: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2020.111649. Epub 2020 Sep 24.

Abstract

This study reports the mass fractions of Al, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Zn, As, Ni, Cu, Cd, Hg, and Pb in water and sediments of the Halda river, Bangladesh, and studies the distribution, contamination, and potential ecological risks of the metals and metalloid. The average mass fractions of As, Cd, and Pb are relatively higher in sediments compared to those in background values, whereas Al, Fe, Mn, and Pb concentration fractions in water are higher than the international guideline values. The results of the different contamination indices indicate that Halda river sediments are minorly contaminated by As and Pb and moderately to considerably contaminated by Cd. The ecological risk assessments indicate considerable to high ecological risk due to Cd. Multivariate statistical analysis reveals the origin of the contaminants in the river, and indicate that Cr, Zn, Pb, and Cd are from anthropogenic activities while the other metals originate from natural lithogenic actions.

Keywords: Ecological risk assessment; Halda river; Heavy metal and metalloid; Multivariate statistical analysis; Neutron activation analysis; Water and sediment contamination.

MeSH terms

  • Bangladesh
  • Breeding
  • China
  • Environmental Monitoring
  • Geologic Sediments
  • Metals, Heavy* / analysis
  • Risk Assessment
  • Rivers
  • Water
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical* / analysis

Substances

  • Metals, Heavy
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical
  • Water