Heavy Metal Contamination Near Industrial Estate Areas in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province, Thailand and Human Health Risk Assessment

Rachaneekorn Mingkhwan,Suwalee Worakhunpiset

doi:10.3390/ijerph15091890

Rachaneekorn Mingkhwan, Suwalee Worakhunpiset

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15091890

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Abstract

Industrial activity is one of the significant sources of environmental contamination with heavy metals, especially in developing countries. Flood can also lead to the distribution of toxic substances into the environment, regarding the Thailand flood in 2011 as some industrial estates are affected, leading to concern about heavy metals from industrial wastewater contamination. We aimed to measure the levels of Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Mn, Pb, and Zn in river and stream water, sediment, and fish collected from the area around the industrial estates in Uthai District and Bangpa-in District of Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province, following the floods of 2011. The results revealed that heavy metal levels in water did not exceed Thailand surface water quality standards, except for Mn levels at one sampling site. Metal levels in sediment and fish samples also did not exceed published standards. The hazard quotient for fish consumption was highest for Ni (0.2178) in Trichopodus trichopterus collected from the area near the industrial estate in Bangpa-in District, while the hazard index from Cd, Cr, and Cu exposure were 0.86966, which was lower than 1, indicating that the health risks for these seven metals were within acceptable ranges.

Highlights

Thailand’s socio-economic structure has been changing rapidly from an agricultural to an industrial society
The study, which was conducted following Thailand flooding in 2011, determined the level of heavy metals in surface water, sediment, and fish collected at sites near industrial estates in Uthai District and Bangpa-In District, and showed that heavy metal concentrations in surface water and sediment at sites near industrial estates in both districts did not exceed permissible standards [7,21,22,27]
Heavy metal levels in surface water and sediments were consistent with the levels reported in previous monitoring studies [28,29,30], with the exception of one sample collected from the area close to industrial estate in Uthai District, which contained higher levels of Mn

Summary

Introduction

Thailand’s socio-economic structure has been changing rapidly from an agricultural to an industrial society. The increase in industrial activities has contributed to environmental pollution throughout the country, raising health concerns. The Chao Phraya and Pasak Rivers are considered major water sources in Chao Phraya River basin, Thailand. Over 30,000 industrial facilities located in the Chao Phraya River basin have contributed to river water contamination by toxic substances, including heavy metals from industrial effluents [1]. Flooding is one extreme event that can play a significant role in toxic substance dispersion to the environment. Regarding the Thailand catastrophic flooding in 2011, industrial estates in central Thailand were flooded, raising concern about toxic chemical contamination from wastewater treatment systems of industrial estates in Phra Nakhon

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