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Heavy Metal Concentration in Pore Water of Salt Marsh Along the Karnafully River Coast, Bangladesh

M. A. M. Siddique
Institute of Marine Science and Fisheries, Chittagong University, Chittagong-4331, Bangladesh.

M. Aktar
Institute of Marine Science and Fisheries, Chittagong University, Chittagong-4331, Bangladesh.

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

Heavy metal concentrations (Fe, Cu, Zn, Cd and Pb) in salt marsh pore water of Karnafully river coast were investigated in this study. Four stations selected for the water sampling were Station-1 (Rajukhali khal), Station-2 (Chaktai khal), Station-3 (Monowerkhali khal) and Station-4 (Chittagong Port). Samples were collected during Monsoon season (i.e during June-August), of 2010. Water samples of four different locations were analyzed for selected heavy metals by AAS (Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry). The mean values of heavy metals were recorded 4.63±2.035 μg mL^-1 for Fe, 0.32±0.080 μg mL^-1 for Cu, 0.66±0.319 μg mL^-1 for Zn, 0.03±0.008 μg mL^-1 for Cd and 0.25±0.085 μg mL^-1 for Pb in this study. It was also observed that, Cd positively correlated with NO₂-N (r = 0.957, p<0.05) and Zn (r = 0.970, p<0.05). Again, positive correlations were also found between Cu and Fe (r = 0.985, p<0.05) and Cu and Zn (r = 0.959, p<0.05) in salt marsh pore water. The mean concentration of Fe, Cd and Pb were found above the recommended value which indicates continuous contamination of salt marsh pore water due to anthropogenic activities.

Keywords: Heavy metal, Salt marsh , Pore water, Karnafully river coast,

Location: Rajukhali khal, Chaktai khal, Monowerkhali khal and Chittagong Port

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Quality and Nutrition

Commodity: Heavy metal, Water quality

Objectives:

To investigate on the concentration of heavy metals in the salt marsh pore water of the Karnafully River

Methodology:

Karnafully is the most strategically important river of the port city of Chittagong, Bangladesh. Four stations selected for the water sampling were Station-1 (Rajukhali khal, Location: 22°19.67' N and 91°51.13' E), Station-2 (Chaktai khal, Location: 22°19.55' N and 91°50.49' E), Station-3 (Monowerkhali khal, Location: 22°19.48' N and 91°49.98' E) and Station-4 (Chittagong Port, Location: 22°18.48' N and 91°48.63' E). Samples were collected during Monsoon season (June-August), 2010 from the study area of the littoral zone using a glass bottle. The samples were preserved in cleaned glass jars and transferred to the laboratory for the analysis. Water samples for dissolved metal analysis were collected separately with Van Dorn water sampler and stored in a 1 L polyethylene bottle with 5 mL HNO₃. Sulphate, nitrate and phosphate were determined using standard procedure. Nitrate as N was determined by the cadmium reduction metal method, while the concentration of phosphate in the samples were determined using the ascorbic acid method by reacting in with adding reagent containing molybdate and an acid to give a blue coloured complex. Two hundred and fifty milliliter of well mixed acidified water samples were kept in Pyrex Backer and evaporated the samples on water bath (temperature above 100°C) placing watch glass on each beaker to about dryness. Five milliliter concentrated HNO₃ was added in each beaker and digested on water bath and filtered by a filter paper (Quantitative Whatman 541) and was made the filtrate to 25 mL with de-ionized water in a 25 mL volumetric flask. Blank digestion was carried out for each sample. All determination were made using a Perkin-Elmer 3110 Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS) with an air acetylene flame and hollow cathode single and combination lamps as light source for the metals under test were used in this work. The following wave lengths were used to run: Cd 228.8, Cu 324.8, Zn 213.9, Pb 283.3 and Fe 248.3. The correlation of nutrients and concentrations of heavy metals in salt marsh pore water were assessed using Pearson’s correlation analysis. All the statistical analyses of the collected data were performed by using Statistical software SPSS 19.0.

Source of Information: Journal of Environmental Science and Technology, 5(4): 241-248, 2012, ISSN 1994-7887.

Article Link (Online Journal): DOI: 10.3923/jest.2012.241.248; URL: http://scialert.net/abstract/?doi=jest.2012.241.248

Funding Source:

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

Generally, the land base activities, domestic and industrial waste disposal and ship refuge were observed to be the main sources of heavy metals in the study area. The results of the present study revealed that, Cd, Pb and Fe exceeded the recommended values and provided indication of metal pollution which however, did not reach an alarming condition. Nevertheless, if this trend of contamination continues, it might seriously affect the salt marsh ecosystem along the Karnafully River coast.

Knowledge Management: Journal