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Pollution in the Bay of Bengal: Impact on Marine Ecosystem

Towhida Rashid
Department of Geography and Environment, University of Dhaka, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Sirajul Hoque
Department of Soil, Water and Environment, University of Dhaka, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Sharmin Akter
Department of Geography and Environment, University of Dhaka, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

The study focused on heavy metal concentration in the sea water, sea sediment and their toxic effect on the sea shells, and on oyster along the east coast of the Bay of Bengal. The hierarchy of heavy metals in sea sediment of the bay showed were as: Fe > Zn > Ni > Cr > Pb > Cd. The average concentration of nickel exceeded ERL (20.9 μg.g⁻¹) value and the incidence of adverse effects on biological components exceeded 16.7%. The present study showed that, the concentration of Cd, Fe, Pb and Cu in sea water were relatively higher than the standard concentration. The study revealed, the presence of a considerable amount of heavy metals (0.035%) such as Zn, Pb, Cu, Fe, and Mg in sea shells, and oyster which might make them toxic. The toxic effect of Pb and Zn might reduce their growth which could be said to be a great threat for the marine ecosystem.

Keywords: Bay of Bengal, Heavy Metal, ERM, Marine Organisms, Sea shells

Location: North-eastern part of the Bay of Bengal

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Risk Management in Agriculture

Non-commodity: Impact

Objectives:

To examine the sea water as well as sea sediment in respect of pollution and their impact on marine ecosystem.

Methodology:

The continental shelf, extending up to 36 nautical miles (about 67 km), of the north-eastern part of the Bay of Bengal was selected as the study area. Thirty sea surface water (upper 40 m), eight sea sediment samples at different depths which varied from 10 to 20 m, and twenty eight sea shells, oyster and coral reef samples were collected by using different sampler such as Water Level sampler, Sediment Grab sampler, Ecobeam sounder with the help of BNS Anushandhan(Roebuck Class Hydrographic Survey vessel with 5 m draft, 64 m length, 30 m width and displacement 1450 ton) provided by the Bangladesh Navy. The samples were collected during March 20 to 23, 2012. In this study lab experiments are performed in BCSIR (Bangladesh Council for Scientific and Industrial Research), Department of Soil, Water and Environment, and Department of Geography and Environment in Dhaka University.Sediment quality guidelines (SQGs) were followed to know the toxic effect of heavy metal on marine ecosystems. The study calculated the average concentration of heavy metal and ERL and ERM guideline values for trace metals (ppm, dry wt.) and percent incidence of biological effects in concentration ranges defined by the two values: ERL = Effects Range-Low and ERM = Effects Range-Median.The pollution load index (PLI) has been calculated by obtaining the n-root from the n-CFs that obtained for all the metals. This CF is the quotient obtained by dividing the concentration of each metal. The formula of PLI is:

PLI = ⁿ√(CF1×CF2×CF3×.......×CFn)

CF = C metal/C background value

where, CF = contamination factor; n = number of metals;

C metal = metal concentration in polluted sediments;

C background value = background value of that metal.

The world average concentration of Cu (45 μg/g), Ni (68 μg/g), Mn (900 μg/g), Pb (20 μg/g), Zn (95 μg/g), Fe (46,000 μg/g), Cr (90 μg/g) and Cd (0.3 μg/g) reported for shells were considered as the background value.

Source of Information: Open Journal of Marine Science, 2015, 5, 55-63

Article Link (Online Journal): https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=9&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwiQr6f1rO_KAhVB1RQKHZ21CjcQFghSMAg&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.scirp.org%2Fjournal%2FPaperDownload.aspx%3FpaperID%3D53127&usg=AFQjCNHPRtat-wlmaEpZNj0jW_YvL2AlIg&sig2=6fr98xm

Funding Source:

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

The present study established that, the shells and oysters in the east coast of the Bay of Bengal were being damaged due to the presence of heavy metals such as Zn, Pb, Cu, Fe, and Mg which might turn them toxic. The toxic effect of Pb and Zn might reduce their growth which seemed to be a great threat for the marine ecosystem. Proper industrial planning and the safe disposal of ship oil, industrial and urban waste could reduce the high levels of pollutants into the coastal ecosystem and would save the enormous marine resource of the country.

Knowledge Management: Journal