Lead Polluted Hotspot: Environmental Implication of Unplanned Industrial Development

• Main Authors: Rikta Sharmin Yousuf, Rahaman Md. Shiblur, Rahman Md. Mostafizur, Tareq Shafi Mohammad
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Alexandru Ioan Cuza University Press, Iasi, Romania 2016-06-01
• Series: Present Environment and Sustainable Development
• Subjects: Bangladesh; Environment; Pollution; Hydrogeochemistry; Lead (Pb)
• Online Access: http://www.degruyter.com/view/j/pesd.2016.10.issue-1/pesd-2016-0005/pesd-2016-0005.xml?format=INT

In Rayer Bazaar, different industries like tannery, plastic, textile, battery recycling industry etc. are increasing rapidly without considering the environmental issues and deterioration. Since chromium (Cr) pollution of this area has been widely investigated due to the presence of tannery industries, this study was focused on examining other environmental factors. Field visits and analytical results of semi-quantitative and quantitative analysis as well as three dimensional excitation emission matrix spectroscopy (3DEEM) of water, soil and vegetative tissues indicated that, the area is highly polluted in term of different environmental parameters and metal content. The extremely high lead (Pb) content of the soil (1171.7 mg/kg in summer, 2157.1 mg/kg in winter) and blackish materials of vegetative tissues (6585.6 mg/kg in summer, 1974.1 mg/kg in winter) indicates excessive lead deposition of this area that makes it a lead polluted hotspot. One of the possible sources of the extremely high lead concentration is adjacent battery recycling industry and/or other industries surrounding this area. So it is urgent to take necessary steps to find out immediate options for possible mitigation.