Ecological Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals in Adjoining Sediment of River Ecosystem

Bhanu Pratap Singh,Moharana Choudhury,Monu Gaur,Palas Samanta,Maniram Kumar

doi:10.3390/su131810330

Abstract

The present study was focused on heavy metal distribution patterns and the associated ecological risk assessment in the adjoining sediment of the Hindon River in Muzaffarnagar Region (U.P.), India. Lead (Pb), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), cadmium (Cd), nickel (Ni), iron (Fe), aluminum (Al), sodium (Na), and potassium (K) were estimated from six sediment samples (Atali A and B, Budhana A and B, and Titavi A and B). The concentration of the heavy metals Zn, Pb, Cu, Ni, and Cd ranged from 25.5–74.7 mg kg−1, 29.8–40.6 mg kg−1, 7.0–29.2 mg kg−1, 14.7–21.8 mg kg−1, and 0.96–1.2 mg kg−1, respectively and followed the sequence Zn > Pb > Cu > Ni > Cd, while major elements followed the sequence Na > Fe > Al > K. The enrichment factor (EF) and geo-accumulation index (Igeo) revealed that Atali A showed the highest enrichment and followed the sequence Zn > Cu > Pb > Ni > Cd. Contamination factor (CF) and contamination degree (CD) depicted that all of the sites (except Titavi B) were moderately to considerably contaminated. The highest degree of contamination (CF, CD, and PLI, pollution load index) was observed at Titavi A followed by Atali A and Budhana A. Eco-toxicological risk assessment (RI) indicated that the sites were moderately contaminated, predominantly by Ni and Pb and Zn. The results revealed that the metal contamination in sediment is alarming and might pose an adverse threat to ecosystem health.

Highlights

Heavy metal pollution in aquatic ecosystems has gained utmost concern because of its persistence and bioaccumulation nature [1,2]
Apart from this, atmospheric deposition and anthropogenic activities have accelerated the accumulation of heavy metal levels in the aquatic ecosystems [8]
Sediments are considered as environmental indicators of metal pollution due to their high physico-chemical stability [1,10]

Summary

Introduction

Heavy metal pollution in aquatic ecosystems has gained utmost concern because of its persistence and bioaccumulation nature [1,2]. Sediments are considered as environmental indicators of metal pollution due to their high physico-chemical stability [1,10]. They serve as both a source and sink of heavy metals [11,12]. Sedimental chemical analysis provides valuable information about the anthropogenic activities that have prevailed in these ecosystems [1]. They are considered to be carriers of different contaminants into aquatic ecosystems. In the marine system’s natural condition, most of the heavy metals are quickly deposited into the bottom sediment after their entry into the riverine system and are concentrated in higher amounts than in water and are introduced

Methods

Results

Conclusion