Heavy metal toxicity in agricultural soil due to rapid industrialization in Bangladesh: a review

Md Sazedul Islam,Md Monirul Islam,Ram Proshad,Md Isfatuzzaman Bhuyan,Tapos Kormoker,Tanvir Nahid Mithu,Niaj Mursheed

doi:10.14419/ijag.v6i1.9174

Md Sazedul Islam, Md Monirul Islam + Show 5 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.14419/ijag.v6i1.9174

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Abstract

Heavy metal is a member of loosely defined subset of elements that exhibit metallic properties. It mainly includes the transition metals, some metalloids, lanthanides, and actinides. Heavy metals are ubiquitous in the environment, as a result of both natural and anthropogenic activities. They are stable and cannot be destroyed, and therefore tend to accumulate in the environment. In recent years, there has been a substantial concern over the extent of contamination of the environment with toxic elements. Soil pollution caused by rapid industrial activities has become a worrisome phenomenon due to its impact on soil and environment. Heavy metal pollution in soil arising from industrial discharges significantly poses a great threat to the environment. Heavy metals come to the soil by several ways and the soil becomes toxic which cause serious problem to the environment. In toxic soil, microorganisms cannot persist and there create an imbalance situation in the soil. The main objective of this study was to assess the problem of heavy metal contamination in industrial area soil in Bangladesh with environmental risk assessment.

Highlights

The environment has continued to suffer from pollution due to increased population and industrialization (Goel 2009)
Heavy metals in soils have been considered as powerful tracers for monitoring impact of anthropogenic activity such as industrial emission, vehicular emission, and atmospheric deposited
Heavy metals are naturally present in soil even though heavy metal contamination comes from local sources: mostly industry, agriculture, waste incineration, combustion of fossil fuels and road traffic

Summary

Introduction

The environment has continued to suffer from pollution due to increased population and industrialization (Goel 2009). The concentrations of heavy metals in soils are associated with biological and geochemical cycles They are influenced by anthropogenic activities, such as transport, waste disposal, industrialization, social and agricultural activities have an effect on environmental pollution and the global ecosystem. Large quantities of hazardous trace elements as a group name of heavy metals (Cr, Ni, Cu, As, Cd, Zn, Fe, Hg, Pb etc.) and semimetals (metalloids-As) have been released into soil worldwide due to global rapid population growth and intensive domestic activities, as well as expanding industrial and agricultural productions (Su et al 2013). The existing propensity of industrialization and urbanization diminishes the non-renewable resources and interrupts both the soil and surface water quality through promiscuous disposition of industrial effluents, solid wastes and other toxic wastes, which are the major environmental issues posing threats to the existence of human being (Rahman 2008)

Sources and occurrence of heavy metals in the soil

Heavy metals concentration scenario in Bangladesh soils

Effects of heavy metals on soil and environment

Findings

Conclusions