Heavy metal pollution in the sundarbans mangrove ecosystem: a growing environmental concern

Result code in IS VaVaI

<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F60076658%3A12520%2F25%3A43910045" target="_blank" >RIV/60076658:12520/25:43910045 - isvavai.cz</a>

Result on the web

<a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hazadv.2025.100887" target="_blank" >https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hazadv.2025.100887</a>

DOI - Digital Object Identifier

<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.hazadv.2025.100887" target="_blank" >10.1016/j.hazadv.2025.100887</a>

Result language

angličtina

Original language name

Heavy metal pollution in the sundarbans mangrove ecosystem: a growing environmental concern

Original language description

The Sundarbans, the world&apos;s largest mangrove forest, hosts a diverse ecosystem with numerous plant and wildlife species. Nevertheless, this vibrant ecosystem is facing a severe threat from heavy metal pollution. To address the ecological and socioeconomic importance of the study area, this research investigated the dynamics of nine trace metals: arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), mercury (Hg), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn) in water and sediment samples. The water and sediment samples were collected from 12 distinct sites in Sundarbans in the pre-monsoon, post-monsoon, and winter seasons. Seasonal and spatial patterns highlighted the concentration fluctuation, which was attributed to contamination levels, and identified the hotspot of the metals. The study found higher levels of As and Hg in all sites across all seasons in the water samples. The highest concentration of water was observed in the Pasur River during the pre-monsoon season. Seasonal dynamics also indicated that pre-and post-monsoon seasons are the most critical for ecosystem vulnerability. The contamination levels indicated by pollution indices such as the Degree of Contamination (Cd), Heavy Metal Pollution Index (HPI), Nemerow Pollution Index (NPI), Geo-accumulation Index (Igeo), and Pollution Load Index (PLI) show that the water is significantly polluted, predominantly by As and Hg. Ecological risk evaluation indicated more ecological risks in water than in sediment. The combined statistical analysis, including Principal Component Analysis (PCA), Hierarchical Cluster analysis (HCA), and Correlation Analysis, identified the prime sources of heavy metals in the water and sediment samples that are mixed geogenic-anthropogenic origins with seasonal variation. Industrial discharge, agriculture and port-related activities were identified as key anthropogenic sources, whereas natural weathering and sediment transport were also significant contributors of metals. The results of the study offer a broad overview of the present heavy metal configuration in water and sediment, which can be regarded as a benchmark for future monitoring programs. Policy frameworks may integrate the findings to adopt an effective mitigation policy to achieve conservation goals of the Sundarbans Mangrove.

Czech name

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Czech description

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Type

J_imp - Article in a specialist periodical, which is included in the Web of Science database

CEP classification

—

OECD FORD branch

10511 - Environmental sciences (social aspects to be 5.7)

Project

—

Continuities

I - Institucionalni podpora na dlouhodoby koncepcni rozvoj vyzkumne organizace

Publication year

2025

Confidentiality

S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů

Name of the periodical

Journal of Hazardous Materials Advances

ISSN

2772-4166

e-ISSN

2772-4166

Volume of the periodical

20

Issue of the periodical within the volume

neuvedeno

Country of publishing house

NL - THE KINGDOM OF THE NETHERLANDS

Number of pages

17

Pages from-to

nestránkováno

UT code for WoS article

001576826000001

EID of the result in the Scopus database

2-s2.0-105016387351