Water Quality Criteria and Ecological Risk Assessment of Typical Transition Metals in South Asia

Ying Wang, Tanjena Rume, S. M. Didar-Ul Islam, Wenhong Fan, Jiangyue Wu () and Xiaomin Li ()
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Ying Wang: School of Space and Environment, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China
Tanjena Rume: School of Space and Environment, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China
S. M. Didar-Ul Islam: School of Civil Engineering and Geosciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU, UK
Wenhong Fan: School of Space and Environment, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China
Jiangyue Wu: National Marine Hazard Mitigation Service, Ministry of Natural Resource of the People’s Republic of China, Beijing 100194, China
Xiaomin Li: School of Space and Environment, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 23, 1-13

Abstract: Transition metal pollution in rivers in South Asia is more serious than in other regions because of the lack of adequate freshwater management measures. Water quality criteria (WQC) for South Asia is urgently needed to protect regional aquatic environments because of the occurrence of transboundary rivers. The present study established non-parametric kernel density estimation species sensitivity distribution (NPKDE-SSD) models and then derived the acceptable hazardous concentration for protection of 95% of all aquatic species (HC5) and WQC of six typical transition metals in South Asia. The results showed that the order of acute and chronic WQC was Mn > Fe > Cd > Zn > Cu > Hg and Cu > Fe > Cd, respectively. A risk assessment of these metals in the Indus River, the Ganges River, the Brahmaputra River, the Meghna River, and the Bagmati River was also carried out. Based on the results, these major rivers in South Asia were highly polluted with transition metals, with significant ecological risks for a large number of aquatic species. This study can contribute to a better understanding of ecological risks in South Asia and provide a scientific basis for the updating of water quality standards and the increase in overall water quality.

Keywords: South Asia; metals; acute and chronic water quality criteria; NPKDE-SSD; water quality standard; ecological risk; transboundary river (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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