Lead and other elements-based pollution in soil, crops and water near a lead-acid battery recycling factory in Bangladesh. (March 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kumar, Sazal; Rahman, Md. Aminur; Islam, Md. Rashidul; Hashem, Md. Abul; Rahman, Mohammad Mahmudur
• Is Part Of: Chemosphere. Volume 290(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-03
• Subjects: Lead-acid battery factory -- Soil -- Vegetable -- Drinking water -- Human health risk; Pollution -- Periodicals; Pollution -- Physiological effect -- Periodicals; Environmental sciences -- Periodicals; Atmospheric chemistry -- Periodicals; 551.511
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.133288
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0045-6535

Abstract

Abstract: Lead (Pb) pollution in the environment predominantly occurs through anthropogenic activities, which pose significant threats to human health and that of biota. In this study, Pb and other elements were investigated in different soils (n = 52), crops (n = 24) and water (n = 13) around a lead-acid battery (LAB) recycling workshop in southwestern Bangladesh. Most of the elements' concentrations (except Se and Ag) in soil were lower than the background concentrations. However, excessive concentrations of Pb were found in both surface (966 ± 2414 mg kg −1 at 0–15 cm) and subsurface (230 ± 490 mg kg −1 at 15–30 cm) soil. Although no definitive pattern or direction in elemental concentration in soil was observed, relatively higher concentrations of most elements were detected at the southeast part of the factory. The LAB factory, brick kiln, agricultural and geogenic activities might be the sources of these elements in soil. Extremely high amounts of Cr, As, Cd, and Pb were found in the food crops around the area. In particular, the Pb concentrations were 114 ± 155 and 665 ± 588 mg kg −1 dry weight in rice grain and straw, respectively, which reflected the emissions of Pb from the LAB recycling workshop. Moreover, 40% and 100% of the groundwater samples exceeded, respectively, the WHO provisional guideline values for As (0.01 mg L −1 ) and Pb (0.05 mg L −1 ). Consequently, a high level of Pb contamination in the soil was observed while assessing different soil pollution indices. Human health risk assessment indicated severe carcinogenic (from Pb, As, and Cr intake) and non-carcinogenic (from Pb, As, Co, Cr, Ni and Sb intake) health risks are associated with rice and groundwater consumption. It is concluded that all LAB recycling workshops should be better managed to prevent Pb pollution from seeping into the environment. Graphical abstract: Image 1 Highlights: This study reports severe lead (Pb) pollution at the LAB factory, Magura, Bangladesh. Pb acid battery recycling was responsible for elevated Pb emissions into the environment. Rice grain and straw including other vegetables accumulated large amounts of Pb. Lead in groundwater was17-fold higher than the WHO guideline value.