Examining the Effect of Induced Industrial and Urban Toxic Elements on Sediment Quality

Abstract

The growing population has resulted in significant pollution of rivers and streams from both residential and industrial sources. The impact of pollution-induced by human activities is of high concern because of extreme environmental issues. In this study, the sediment quality was assessed using pollution index models to ascertain the pollution level of toxic elements. The concentration ranges of radioactive elements uranium and thorium, determined as 1.26 – 2.86 mg/kg and 3.36 – 5.84 mg/kg have demonstrated notable levels of beta and alpha radioactivity of 0.1 to 1.0 Bq/q. These levels of radioactive pollution could be hazardous to the benthic community of the riverbed. Extreme concentrations of lead and mercury, 475 and 77.5 mg/kg, respectively, were detected to have high levels of the geoaccumulation index, pollution load index, contamination, and enrichment factors. These levels ranging from significant contamination to severe enrichment correlated with possible human input. Pearson Correlation revealed a significant coefficient between arsenic–iron and lead–iron and a weak correlation between arsenic–mercury and mercury–cadmium. These correlations suggested that similar types of pollution sources are responsible for the contamination of river sediment. In an effort to maintain the quality of the sediment health and minimize the impact of toxic pollutants, it is imperative that the river sediment be monitored constantly.