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Ecological Risk Posed by Heavy Metals Contamination of Ship Breaking Yards in Bangladesh

Aktaruzzaman, M
Department of Environmental Sciences, Jahangirnagar University, Dhaka-1342, Bangladesh

Chowdhury M. A. Z.
Agrochemical and Environmental Research Division, Institute of Food and Radiation Biology, Atomic Energy Research Establishment, Savar, Dhaka-1349, Bangladesh

Fardous, Z.
Agrochemical and Environmental Research Division, Institute of Food and Radiation Biology, Atomic Energy Research Establishment, Savar, Dhaka-1349, Bangladesh

Alam, M. K.
Agrochemical and Environmental Research Division, Institute of Food and Radiation Biology, Atomic Energy Research Establishment, Savar, Dhaka-1349, Bangladesh

Hossain, M. S.
Department of Environmental Sciences, Jahangirnagar University, Dhaka-1342, Bangladesh

Fakhruddin, A. N. M.*
Department of Environmental Sciences, Jahangirnagar University, Dhaka-1342, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

Pollution of water and soils by heavy metals is an emerging problem in industrialized countries. The present study was conducted to investigate the heavy metals concentration in water and sediment samples from ship breaking sites of Sitakunda to assess the potential ecological risk posed by heavy metal using different methods. Heavy metals concentration was analyzed by Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy. Concentrations of all the tested heavy metals except Cr in water samples of ship breaking site, Sitakunda were lower than recommended values. The mean concentration of Cr was found 0.511± 0.284 mg/l. Concentrations of all the tested heavy metals except Mn in sediment samples were higher than standard limit. The concentrations of Pb, Mn, Cr, Cu and Zn in the sediment were 55.93±18.70, 20.08±4.03, 106.8±47.65, 50.09±18.31, and 70.71±19.45 mg/kg, respectively. Based on Geoaccumulation Index, Contamination factor, Sediment Quality Guidelines, the sediment of ship breaking site can be treated as unpolluted to moderately polluted with Pb, Zn, Cr and Cu but unpolluted with Mn. The Enrichment factors of Pb, Mn, Cr, Cu and Zn in the sediment were: 2.97±0.98, 0.035±0.008, 1.97±0.88, 1.99±0.73, and 1.17±0.32, respectively. The Enrichment factor (>1) in all sampling sites, suggesting source of those metals (Pb, Cr, Cu and Zn) were more likely to be anthropogenic. Based on the Potential Ecological Risk Index the ship breaking site posed to low risk to the environment. The results of present study clearly indicated that the ship breaking site was moderately polluted with heavy metals and pose low risk to the ecosystem.

Keywords: Heavy metals, Ship breaking yard, Geo-accumulation Index, Pollution load Index,

Location:

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Risk Management in Agriculture

Commodity: Heavy metal

Objectives:

The aims of this study were to determine the concentrations of heavy metals in water and sediments sample of ship breaking site, Sitakunda, Chittagong and also to assess the potential ecological risk posed by heavy metals using different methods.

Methodology:

Reference standard heavy metals cadmium, copper, lead, chromium, manganese, iron and zinc were obtained from Kanto Chemical Co. Inc., Japan. Samples of water and sediment were collected from in and around ship breaking yard of Sitakunda, Chittagong of Bangladesh. Most ship breaking yards of Bangladesh are situated along the coast of Chittagong Fauzdarhat to Kumira under the Sitakunda upazila of Chittagong. The present study site is situated at Bhatiary, Fauzdarhat under the Sitakunda upazila. The area of Fauzdarhat is about 7 km beach situated approximately 20 km southwest of Chittagong city. The geographical location of the ship scrapping zone is between latitude 22^o 25' and 22^o 28' N, and longitude 91^o 42' and 91o 45' E. A total of 15 (500 ml each) of water samples were collected randomly from the sites. Plastic container of 500 ml was used for sampling purpose. For measurement of metal concentration, immediately after collection of water sample 1 ml of 65% concentrated HNO3 was addedto each of the samples, mixed one minute and transferred to the laboratory for analysis. Samples were properly labeled and preserved at -20 0 C to preclude the risk of hydrolysis and oxidation. Total 15 (1 Kg each) sediment samples were collected from the ship breaking site. Polyethylene bags were used for collecting the sediment samples. The samples were transferred to the laboratory as early as possible. The samples were properly labeled and preserved at -20 0 C. Samples were digested with nitric acid for heavy metal determination as described by Baker and Amacher (1982).Water samples (500 ml) were filtered using Whatman No. 41 (0.45 µm pore size) filter paper for estimation of dissolved metal content. Filtrate (500 ml) was preserved at room temperature with 2 ml nitric acid to prevent the precipitation of metals. 50 ml of the sample was transformed into clean glass and concentrated nitric acid was added to for it’s digestion. The solution was heated at 95^o C without boiling until dry. After cooling the samples were diluted to 50 ml with de-ionized water. Finally, the sample solution was aspirated into air acetylene flame in an atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Sediment samples were oven dried at 95^OC (48 h) dried and ground into fine powder using pestle and mortar. Further 15 g of fine powder sediment sample was taken in a conical flask to which 15 ml of 1M HNO3 (9 ml of distilled water + 1 ml of nitric acid) was added. Then 30 ml of distilled water was added to the mixture and the solution was kept for 24 h with cover. After 24 hours, distilled water was added to the solution up to 150 g by weight. The sample was then centrifuged and filtered by Whatman No. 41 filter paper. Filtrates were finally analyzed by AAS. Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS) (Model: AA-6401F, Atomic Absorption Flame Spectrophotometer, SHIMADZU) was used for the determination of heavy metals. To provide element specific wavelengths, a light beam from a lamp whose cathode is made of the element being determined is passed through the flame. A device such as photon multiplier can detect the amount of reduction of the light intensity due to absorption by the analyte and this can be directly related to the amount of the element in the sample. The heavy metal contamination in the coastal sediments was evaluated by comparison with the sediment quality guideline proposed by USEPA. Geoaccumulation index (Igeo) was used to determine metals contamination in sediments, by comparing current concentrations with pre-industrial levels and calculated by the following equation of Muller (1969). Igeo = log2 (Cn/1.5 Bn) Where, Cn is the concentration of element ‘n’ and Bn is the geochemical background value in this study. The geo-accumulation index (Igeo) scale consists of seven grades (0-6) ranging from unpolluted to highly pollute are shown.

Source of Information: Int. J. Environ. Res., 8(2):469-478,Spring 2014 ISSN: 1735-6865

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Achievement/Findings:

Concentrations of all the tested heavy metals except Cr in water samples of ship breaking site, Sitakunda were lower than recommended values. The mean concentration of Cr was 0.511mg/l. Concentrations of all the heavy metals except Mn in sediment samples of ship breaking site, Sitakunda were higher than guidelines. Mean Concentration of heavy metals concentration in sediment samples were in order: Cr > Zn > Pb > Cu > Mn. •Considering USEPA, Geoaccumulation Index (Igeo) and Contamination Factor (Cf ) the sediment samples are moderately to heavily pollute with Pb, Cu, Zn and Cr. Enrichment factor (EF) value for all the metals (Pb, Cr, Cu and Zn) except Mn were found > 1 in all sampling sites suggesting source of those metal (Pb, Cr, Cu and Zn) are more likely to be anthropogenic. The average monomial ecological risks for all selected metals were found below 40, which indicated all metals posed to low risk to the surrounding ecosystem.

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