Abstract:
Based on research findings, Bangladesh’s river water, crucial for domestic, agricultural, and
industrial use, has long been in a terrible situation. There have been numerous instances of
significant contamination in the waterways surrounding Dhaka city, including the Buriganga
River, and in Chattogram city, including the Karnaphuli River, over the past 40 years. The
existing data demonstrate that other urban rivers, particularly Karatoa, Teesta, Rupsa,
Pasur, and Padma, are also in severe condition due to the disposition of huge pollutants.
Contaminants flowing with the water have severely polluted the downstream areas of the
rivers. High metal concentrations are frequently observed in river water during the dry
season. In the Buriganga River and at certain locations in the Turag, Balu, Sitalakhya, and
Karnaphuli Rivers, the presence of dissolvable oxygen (DO) is nearly zero. NO3, NO2, and
PO4-3 pollution has also occurred in many rivers. Most rivers have Cr, Zn, Fe, Pb, Cu, Cd,
Mn, As, and Ni concentrations beyond the legal limit for drinking water. In contrast, some
rivers have metal concentrations above the legal irrigation water limit. The majority of the
rivers, particularly the peri-urban rivers in Dhaka city, Teesta, Korotoa, Rupsha, Karnaphuli,
and Meghna Rivers, have significantly higher metal concentrations, according to sediment
data. Metal concentrations in sediment are generally higher than USEPA standards in most
rivers. Metal concentrations in fish and crops demonstrate metal bioaccumulation. The trend
in metal concentration follows the order of water, fish, and sediment. It has been shown that
crops irrigated with tainted water contain dangerous metals. The analysis of daily intake data
on carcinogenic and noncarcinogenic substances reveals that consuming contaminated food
can seriously impact human health.
