Heavy metal pollution in the sundarbans mangrove ecosystem: a growing environmental concern

IF 7.7 Q2 ENGINEERING, ENVIRONMENTAL
Arnob Ghosh , Md. Kamal Hossain , Kowshik Das Karmaker , Md. Zuel Rana , Md. Jobaer Alam , Abu Hena Muhammad Yousuf , Shamiha Shafinaz Shreya , Mahfujur Rahman , Afsana Hamid , Afroza Parvin , Mohammad Moniruzzaman , Mohammad Abdul Momin Siddique , Mahmudul Hasan
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引用次数: 0

Abstract

The Sundarbans, the world's largest mangrove forest, hosts a diverse ecosystem with numerous plant and wildlife species. Nevertheless, this vibrant ecosystem is facing a severe threat from heavy metal pollution. To address the ecological and socioeconomic importance of the study area, this research investigated the dynamics of nine trace metals: arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), mercury (Hg), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn) in water and sediment samples. The water and sediment samples were collected from 12 distinct sites in Sundarbans in the pre-monsoon, post-monsoon, and winter seasons. Seasonal and spatial patterns highlighted the concentration fluctuation, which was attributed to contamination levels, and identified the hotspot of the metals. The study found higher levels of As and Hg in all sites across all seasons in the water samples. The highest concentration of water was observed in the Pasur River during the pre-monsoon season. Seasonal dynamics also indicated that pre- and post-monsoon seasons are the most critical for ecosystem vulnerability. The contamination levels indicated by pollution indices such as the Degree of Contamination (Cd), Heavy Metal Pollution Index (HPI), Nemerow Pollution Index (NPI), Geo-accumulation Index (Igeo), and Pollution Load Index (PLI) show that the water is significantly polluted, predominantly by As and Hg. Ecological risk evaluation indicated more ecological risks in water than in sediment. The combined statistical analysis, including Principal Component Analysis (PCA), Hierarchical Cluster analysis (HCA), and Correlation Analysis, identified the prime sources of heavy metals in the water and sediment samples that are mixed geogenic–anthropogenic origins with seasonal variation. Industrial discharge, agriculture and port-related activities were identified as key anthropogenic sources, whereas natural weathering and sediment transport were also significant contributors of metals. The results of the study offer a broad overview of the present heavy metal configuration in water and sediment, which can be regarded as a benchmark for future monitoring programs. Policy frameworks may integrate the findings to adopt an effective mitigation policy to achieve conservation goals of the Sundarbans Mangrove.

Abstract Image

孙德本斯红树林生态系统中的重金属污染:一个日益严重的环境问题
孙德尔本斯是世界上最大的红树林,拥有多种多样的生态系统,有许多植物和野生动物物种。然而,这个充满活力的生态系统正面临着重金属污染的严重威胁。为了解决研究区域的生态和社会经济重要性,本研究调查了九种微量金属:砷(As)、镉(Cd)、铬(Cr)、铜(Cu)、汞(Hg)、锰(Mn)、镍(Ni)、铅(Pb)和锌(Zn)在水和沉积物样品中的动态。在季风前、季风后和冬季,从孙德尔本斯12个不同的地点收集了水和沉积物样本。季节和空间格局突出了污染水平的浓度波动,并确定了金属的热点。研究发现,在所有季节的水样中,所有地点的砷和汞含量都较高。在季风前季节,在帕苏尔河观测到的水浓度最高。季节动态还表明,季风前和季风后季节对生态系统脆弱性最为关键。污染程度(Cd)、重金属污染指数(HPI)、Nemerow污染指数(NPI)、地质累积指数(Igeo)和污染负荷指数(PLI)等污染水平表明,水体受到严重污染,主要是砷和汞污染。生态风险评价表明水体生态风险大于沉积物生态风险。结合主成分分析(PCA)、层次聚类分析(HCA)和相关分析,确定了水体和沉积物中重金属的主要来源,即具有季节变化的地质-人为混合来源。工业排放、农业和与港口有关的活动被确定为主要的人为来源,而自然风化和沉积物运输也是金属的重要来源。研究结果提供了目前水和沉积物中重金属配置的广泛概述,可作为未来监测计划的基准。政策框架可以综合研究结果,采取有效的缓解政策,以实现孙德尔本斯红树林的保护目标。
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来源期刊
Journal of hazardous materials advances
Journal of hazardous materials advances Environmental Engineering
CiteScore
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