Heavy Metal Contamination and Human Health Risk Associated with Sediment of Ganges River (Northwestern Bangladesh)

Abstract

Metal contamination of sediment of Ganges River (Northwestern Bangladesh) and its possible health risk to the local people were evaluated at four different sites during three seasons (summer, monsoon, winter) in the year 2016. Followed by wet digestion, the samples were analysed by Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. Mean concentration of Cr, Pb, Ni, Cd, Mn, As, Cu and Zn were 9.31, 6.43, 0.19, 1.90, 61.66, 0.65, 9.33 and 16.14 mg/kg, respectively. According to metal indices (contamination factor, contamination degree and pollution load index), the sediment was low to moderately contaminated with the studied metals, while human health risk assessment indicated unacceptable risk (hazard index (HI) values > 1) for non-carcinogenic adverse health effect. Therefore, the sediment of the river was not contaminated enough to prevail high risk on ecological health of river and to pose health risk on local people, but regular practice of discharging contaminants can somehow worsen the river quality in the coming years.