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Rampley CPN, Whitehead PG, Softley L, Hossain MA, Jin L, David J, Shawal S, Das P, Thompson IP, Huang WE, Peters R, Holdship P, Hope R, Alabaster G. River toxicity assessment using molecular biosensors: Heavy metal contamination in the Turag-Balu-Buriganga river systems, Dhaka, Bangladesh. Sci Total Environ 2020; 703:134760. [PMID: 31744697 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.134760] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2019] [Revised: 09/29/2019] [Accepted: 09/29/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Pollution in rapidly urbanising cities and in delta systems is a serious problem that blights the lives and livelihoods of millions of people, damaging and restricting potable water supply and supplies to industry (Whitehead et al, 2015, 2018). Employing new technology based on luminescent molecular biosensors, the toxicity in the rivers around Dhaka in Bangladesh, namely the Turag, Tongi, Balu and Buriganga, has been assessed. Samples taken at 36 sites during medium and low flow conditions and during the Bishwa Ijtema Festival revealed high levels of cell toxicity, as well as high concentrations of metals, particularly aluminium, cadmium, chromium, iron, zinc, lithium, selenium and nickel. Chemical analysis also revealed low dissolved oxygen levels and anoxic conditions in the rivers at certain sites. The bacterial molecular biosensors were demonstrated to be fast, with results in 30 min, robust and a highly sensitive method for the assessment of water toxicity in the field. Furthermore, the biosensor toxicity analysis correlated with the metals data, and a multivariate regression relationship was developed relating toxicity to key metals, such a selenium, zinc and chromium. The resulting model has been validated against split samples and the Bishwa Ijtema Festival data. The combination of modelling and the molecular biosensor technology provides a new approach to detecting and managing pollution in urban river systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- C P N Rampley
- Oxford Molecular Biosensors, Centre for Innovation and Enterprise, Begbroke, Oxford OX5 1PF, UK
| | - P G Whitehead
- School of Geography and the Environment, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QY, UK; Oxford Molecular Biosensors, Centre for Innovation and Enterprise, Begbroke, Oxford OX5 1PF, UK.
| | - L Softley
- School of Geography and the Environment, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QY, UK
| | - M A Hossain
- Institute of Water and Flood Management (IWFM), Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), Dhaka 1000, Bangladesh
| | - L Jin
- Geology Department, State University of New York College at Cortland, Cortland, NY 13045, USA
| | - J David
- School of Geography and the Environment, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QY, UK
| | - S Shawal
- Institute of Water and Flood Management (IWFM), Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), Dhaka 1000, Bangladesh
| | - P Das
- Institute of Water and Flood Management (IWFM), Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), Dhaka 1000, Bangladesh
| | - I P Thompson
- Department of Engineering Science, University of Oxford, Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PF, UK
| | - W E Huang
- Department of Engineering Science, University of Oxford, Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PF, UK
| | - R Peters
- School of Geography and the Environment, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QY, UK
| | - P Holdship
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Oxford, Parks Road, OX1 3AN, UK
| | - R Hope
- School of Geography and the Environment, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QY, UK
| | - G Alabaster
- United Nations Human Settlements Programme, Waste Management and Sanitation Division, Palais des Nations, Avenue de la Paix, 8-14, 1211 Genève, Switzerland
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Whitehead PG, Bussi G, Peters R, Hossain MA, Softley L, Shawal S, Jin L, Rampley CPN, Holdship P, Hope R, Alabaster G. Modelling heavy metals in the Buriganga River System, Dhaka, Bangladesh: Impacts of tannery pollution control. Sci Total Environ 2019; 697:134090. [PMID: 32380601 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.134090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2019] [Revised: 08/22/2019] [Accepted: 08/22/2019] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Heavy metal pollution from tanneries is a global problem in many rapidly developing economies. Effluent discharges into rivers cause serious problems for water quality, damaging ecology and threatening the livelihoods of people, especially in developing urban centres which often have a high concentration of factories. The industry intensive capital area of Bangladesh is impacted with high levels of metals pollution in rivers in the Greater Dhaka Watershed. Sampling and modelling studies have been undertaken to assess pollution in the Buriganga River System in Dhaka. The process based, dynamic model INCA (Integrated Catchments) model has been used to simulate metals along the Buriganga River System in Central Dhaka. Observed and simulated metals concentrations are high, and the model shows that the proposed transfer of the tannery industry upstream helps to reduce the pollution significantly downstream. However, moving the industry upstream may be counterproductive as it is discharged into the upper reaches of the river. This will create pollution upstream unless the newly constructed effluent treatment system can operate at a high level.
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Affiliation(s)
- P G Whitehead
- School of Geography and the Environment, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QY, UK; Oxford Molecular Biosensors, Centre for Innovation and Enterprise, Begbroke, Oxford OX5 1PF, UK.
| | - G Bussi
- School of Geography and the Environment, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QY, UK
| | - R Peters
- School of Geography and the Environment, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QY, UK
| | - M A Hossain
- Institute of Water and Flood Management (IWFM), Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), Dhaka 1000, Bangladesh
| | - L Softley
- School of Geography and the Environment, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QY, UK
| | - S Shawal
- Institute of Water and Flood Management (IWFM), Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), Dhaka 1000, Bangladesh
| | - L Jin
- Geology Department, State University of New York College at Cortland, Cortland, NY 13045, USA
| | - C P N Rampley
- Oxford Molecular Biosensors, Centre for Innovation and Enterprise, Begbroke, Oxford OX5 1PF, UK
| | - P Holdship
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Oxford, Parks Road, OX1 3AN, UK
| | - R Hope
- School of Geography and the Environment, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QY, UK
| | - G Alabaster
- United Nations Human Settlements Programme, Waste Management and Sanitation Division, Palais des Nations, Avenue de la Paix, 8-14, 1211 Genève, Switzerland
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