ASSESSMENT OF CONTAMINATION AND POLLUTION RISKS CAUSED BY HEAVY METALS IN FISH POND SEDIMENTS

Abstract

Pollution by heavy metals poses a significant risk to human health and ecology through the food web. Metal contamination in fish pond sediments can be caused by improper waste management and the overuse of artificial feed to increase output and profit. By using an atomic absorption spectrometer to analyse heavy metals such as Cd, Mn, Pb, and Cr, this study aims to assess the contamination levels and pollution risk from bottom sediment samples taken from 12 different fish ponds in the Rajshahi City of Bangladesh. According to this investigation, the concentrations of the metals Pb, Mn, Cr, and Cd were 0.1188 to 1.5139, 0.1899 to 0.8483, 0.0292 to 0.0395, and 0.3017 to 1.6182 mg/kg, respectively. All results show that the metal contents of all the sediments studied around the area do not exceed the standard limit. The risk assessment of the sediments was evaluated based on the geoaccumulation index, enrichment factor, and contamination factor. The analysis indicated that Cd, Pb, and Cr accumulation are within the acceptable limit except for Mn. This study provides essential baseline data on heavy metal contamination, serving as a foundation for future research by focusing on identifying contamination sources, accumulation pathways, and element mobility from feed to fish and sediment to significantly reduce environmental risks and protect both ecosystem integrity and public health.