Heavy metal pollution in sediments at ship breaking area of Bangladesh

Abstract

The research was carried out to assess the trace metal concentration in sediments of ship breaking area in Bangladesh. The study areas were separated into Ship Breaking Zone and Reference Site for comparative analysis. Metals like iron (Fe) was found at 11,932 to 41,361.71 μg.g -1 in the affected site and 3393.37 μg.g -1 in the control site. Manganese (Mn) varied from 2.32 to 8.25 μg.g -1 in the affected site whereas it was recorded as 1.8 μg.g -1 in the control area. Chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni), zinc (Zn) and lead (Pb) also varied from 22.89 to 86.72 μg.g -1; 23.12 to 48.6; 83.78 to 142.85 and 36.78 to 147.83 μg.g -1 respectively in the affected site whereas these were recorded as 19, 3.98, 22.22 and 8.82 μg.g -1 in the control site. Copper (Cu), cadmium (Cd) and mercury (Hg) concentration varied from 21.05 to 39.85, 0.57 to 0.94 and 0.05 to 0.11 μg.g -1 in the affected site and 33.0, 0.115 and 0.01 μg.g -1 in the control site. It may be concluded that heavy metal pollution in sediments at ship breaking area of Bangladesh is at alarming stage.