Assessment of Anthropogenic Influence on Heavy Metals Contamination in the Aquatic Ecosystem Components: Water, Sediment, and Fish

Heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Ni, Cr, Cu, Zn, Mn, and As) concentration was investigated in the industrial effluents, water, sediment, and fish samples collected around the Dhaka Export Processing Zone, Savar, Bangladesh, to evaluate the level of contamination. The metals concentration in the industrial effluents of DEPZ and in the water samples of Dhalaibeel (lowland cum lake) and Bangshi River were significantly higher compared to the guideline values for industrial effluents and for drinking water (WHO and USEPA), respectively. The sedimentary metal concentrations were found to be lower than the respective probable effect concentrations (PECs) following the sediment quality guidelines. Furthermore, in comparison with the fish standards, the studied fish species were not found to be contaminated by heavy metals.…