Distribution, Concentration, and Ecological Risk Assessment of Trace Metals in Surface Sediment of a Tropical Bangladeshi Urban River

Md. Nur-E-Alam, Mohammed Abdus Salam, Sanchita Dewanjee, Md. Foysal Hasan, Hafizur Rahman, Aweng Eh Rak, Abu Reza Md. Towfiqul Islam and Md. Yunus Miah
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Md. Nur-E-Alam: Department of Environmental Science and Disaster Management, Noakhali Science and Technology University, Noakhali 3814, Bangladesh
Mohammed Abdus Salam: Department of Environmental Science and Disaster Management, Noakhali Science and Technology University, Noakhali 3814, Bangladesh
Sanchita Dewanjee: Department of Applied Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Noakhali Science and Technology University, Noakhali 3814, Bangladesh
Md. Foysal Hasan: Department of Environmental Science and Disaster Management, Noakhali Science and Technology University, Noakhali 3814, Bangladesh
Hafizur Rahman: Department of Environmental Science and Management, School of Environment and Life Sciences, Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB), Dhaka 1229, Bangladesh
Aweng Eh Rak: Faculty of Earth Science University, Jeli Campus, University Malaysia Kelantan, Jeli 17600, Malaysia
Abu Reza Md. Towfiqul Islam: Department of Disaster Management, Begum Rokeya University, Rangpur 5400, Bangladesh
Md. Yunus Miah: Department of Soil Science, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University, Gazipur 1706, Bangladesh

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 9, 1-18

Abstract: Trace metal contamination in sediments is a global concern. This study aimed to assess the contamination level of trace metals, their sources, and ecological risk in surface sediments of Karnaphuli River—a tropical urban river in Bangladesh. Forty-five sediment samples were analyzed by atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS) for Cu, Fe, Zn, Pb, Cr, Cd, and Ni metals along with physicochemical parameters like pH and organic matter (OM). The pollution status and potential ecological risk were assessed by using the geo-accumulation index (I geo ), contamination factor (CF), and potential ecological risk index (PERI). Source identification of trace metals was performed by correlation analysis, cluster analysis, and principal component analysis (PCA). The results show that the range of Cu, Fe, Zn, Pb, Cr, Cd, and Ni concentrations were 0.62–1.61 mg/kg, 23.95–85.70%, 0.52–1.89 mg/kg, 7.99–12.90 mg/kg, 33.91–65.47 mg/kg, 0.77–1.17 mg/kg, and 2.73–5.36 mg/kg, respectively. The concentrations of Fe, Cd, and Cr were above the permissible limits while the contamination factor (CF) and geo-accumulation index (I geo ) values revealed that Fe and Cd were the most dominant pollutants. Cluster analysis and PERI exhibited significant anthropogenic intrusions of trace metals. A significant positive correlation between Fe-Cr, Cr-Ni, Fe-Ni, and Pb-Cd shows their common anthropogenic source and influences. PERI also revealed that Cr, Fe, and Cd have a significant contribution with a moderate to considerable potential threat.

Keywords: trace metals; Karnaphuli River; surface sediment; source identification; risk assessment (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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