Trace metal concentrations in surface water and pore water sediment of coastal aquaculture ponds, Bangladesh

Abstract

This study investigates contamination of surface water and pore water sediment by trace metals at the three coastal fish farms of Noakhali district in Bangladesh using Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). The World Health Organization (WHO) and United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) standards were used as the baseline for the evaluation of surface water pollution and contamination of the sediments respectively. Cr and Cd concentrations in the surface water exceeded the reference limit, but there was no metal contamination of the pore water sediment. The average trace metals concentrations in both surface water and pore water sediment respectively showed similar trends Cr> Pb > Cu> Zn > Cd. All the metals studied exhibit negative Igeo values and CF<1 indicating uncontaminated sediment quality. The results of this study indicate that surface water of aquaculture ponds may be a possible source of trace metals which could be of health concern.