Heavy metal pollution status and health risk assessment vicinity to Barapukuria coal mine area of Bangladesh

Abstract

Study related to pollution and subsequence health risk assessment adjacent to coal mining region is indispensable since coal mining and combustion have adverse impacts on the soil, subsoil, and plants in the surrounding area with a threat to human health and ecosystem. This study assesses the heavy metal pollution in water and soil as well as uptake in several parts of paddy plants over the three seasons around the year in the vicinity of the Barapukuria coal mine in Bangladesh, with the ultimate goal of estimating human health risks from eating the rice grown in this area. Enrichment factor (EF), pollution load index (PLI), geo-accumulation index (Igeo) and biological accumulation factor (BAF) were estimated for quantifying the pollution status in soils and plants. Collected samples were prepared and analysed by using USEPA recommended methods. PLI showed that soils irrigated by coal mine water were highly polluted by Ni, Fe, and Cr metals. The Igeo indicated that the soil in the study area was moderately contaminated by Cu, Zn and Ni. Amongst all types of samples, soil was found with the highest pollution followed by roots, stems, and grains; however, bioaccumulation was not evident. In the three varieties of rice grains tested, Zn and Fe were present with the highest concentrations. Through the rice grain, people in the area are ingesting Fe in the highest amounts and Cr with the lowest. Even though the concentration of Cr is low it is still above the oral intake level as recommended by USEPA.