Heavy metals contamination in water, sediments and fish of freshwater ecosystems in Pakistan
Freshwater ecosystems are being contaminated by heavy metal pollution. The primary source of contamination is wastewater discharged from urban, industrial, and agricultural facilities. The contaminated water contains hazardous amounts of heavy metals mixed in the freshwater ecosystem, causing delete...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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IWA Publishing
2022-05-01
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| Series: | Water Practice and Technology |
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| Online Access: | http://wpt.iwaponline.com/content/17/5/1253 |
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| author | Muhammad Afzaal Saman Hameed Iram Liaqat Amir Amanat Ali Khan Hafiz abdul Manan Raja Shahid Muhammad Altaf |
| author_facet | Muhammad Afzaal Saman Hameed Iram Liaqat Amir Amanat Ali Khan Hafiz abdul Manan Raja Shahid Muhammad Altaf |
| author_sort | Muhammad Afzaal |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Freshwater ecosystems are being contaminated by heavy metal pollution. The primary source of contamination is wastewater discharged from urban, industrial, and agricultural facilities. The contaminated water contains hazardous amounts of heavy metals mixed in the freshwater ecosystem, causing deleterious impacts on marine life and humans. This review paper highlights the contamination of the freshwater ecosystem of Pakistan with heavy metals. Heavy metals' concentration in sediments, water, and fish were assessed in the food chain, and their relationship with sites and sources was explored. It was observed that heavy metals present in freshwater and sediments bio-accumulate into fish organs. It was also found that some parts of freshwaters such as the rivers Ravi, Chenab, Kabul, and Indus were highly contaminated, and they imposed negative impacts on fish and human health. The River Ravi, receiving a huge amount of industrial and sewage wastewater from urban centers and industries of Central Punjab, was highly contaminated compared to other rivers of Pakistan. The ecosystem health of River Indus was the best among all the rivers of Pakistan due to the enormous volume of water flow and less number of industrial units along with it. Freshwater fish of the rivers Indus, Chenab, and Jhelum are consumable for humans. The presence of heavy metals also causes social, environmental, and economic problems. Therefore, the wastewater should be treated before discharge into freshwater streams and rivers to lessen the harmful impacts of heavy metals on marine life and human beings. HIGHLIGHTS
The freshwater ecosystems of Pakistan are highly contaminated with heavy metals.;
The rivers Ravi and Kabul are highly contaminated because of discharge of industrial and sewage water.;
The rivers Chenab and Jhelum have moderate metal contamination at a few sites.;
The River Indus is very less contaminated with heavy metals.;
Contaminated fish from polluted rivers can badly impact human health.; |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T21:38:24Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-41f2288fa26d4f37a5010aab10e6d471 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1751-231X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T21:38:24Z |
| publishDate | 2022-05-01 |
| publisher | IWA Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Water Practice and Technology |
| spelling | doaj.art-41f2288fa26d4f37a5010aab10e6d4712022-12-22T04:01:40ZengIWA PublishingWater Practice and Technology1751-231X2022-05-011751253127210.2166/wpt.2022.039039Heavy metals contamination in water, sediments and fish of freshwater ecosystems in PakistanMuhammad Afzaal0Saman Hameed1Iram Liaqat2Amir Amanat Ali Khan3Hafiz abdul Manan4Raja Shahid5Muhammad Altaf6 Sustainable Development Study Center, Government College University, Lahore, Pakistan Sustainable Development Study Center, Government College University, Lahore, Pakistan Department of Zoology, Government College University, Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan Department of Environmental Sciences, Defense Road campus, The University of Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan Department of Polymer Engineering, University of Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan Department of Chemistry, Government College University, Lahore, Pakistan Department of Chemistry, Government College University, Lahore, Pakistan Freshwater ecosystems are being contaminated by heavy metal pollution. The primary source of contamination is wastewater discharged from urban, industrial, and agricultural facilities. The contaminated water contains hazardous amounts of heavy metals mixed in the freshwater ecosystem, causing deleterious impacts on marine life and humans. This review paper highlights the contamination of the freshwater ecosystem of Pakistan with heavy metals. Heavy metals' concentration in sediments, water, and fish were assessed in the food chain, and their relationship with sites and sources was explored. It was observed that heavy metals present in freshwater and sediments bio-accumulate into fish organs. It was also found that some parts of freshwaters such as the rivers Ravi, Chenab, Kabul, and Indus were highly contaminated, and they imposed negative impacts on fish and human health. The River Ravi, receiving a huge amount of industrial and sewage wastewater from urban centers and industries of Central Punjab, was highly contaminated compared to other rivers of Pakistan. The ecosystem health of River Indus was the best among all the rivers of Pakistan due to the enormous volume of water flow and less number of industrial units along with it. Freshwater fish of the rivers Indus, Chenab, and Jhelum are consumable for humans. The presence of heavy metals also causes social, environmental, and economic problems. Therefore, the wastewater should be treated before discharge into freshwater streams and rivers to lessen the harmful impacts of heavy metals on marine life and human beings. HIGHLIGHTS The freshwater ecosystems of Pakistan are highly contaminated with heavy metals.; The rivers Ravi and Kabul are highly contaminated because of discharge of industrial and sewage water.; The rivers Chenab and Jhelum have moderate metal contamination at a few sites.; The River Indus is very less contaminated with heavy metals.; Contaminated fish from polluted rivers can badly impact human health.;http://wpt.iwaponline.com/content/17/5/1253fishhealthheavy metalsriversedimentswater |
| spellingShingle | Muhammad Afzaal Saman Hameed Iram Liaqat Amir Amanat Ali Khan Hafiz abdul Manan Raja Shahid Muhammad Altaf Heavy metals contamination in water, sediments and fish of freshwater ecosystems in Pakistan Water Practice and Technology fish health heavy metals river sediments water |
| title | Heavy metals contamination in water, sediments and fish of freshwater ecosystems in Pakistan |
| title_full | Heavy metals contamination in water, sediments and fish of freshwater ecosystems in Pakistan |
| title_fullStr | Heavy metals contamination in water, sediments and fish of freshwater ecosystems in Pakistan |
| title_full_unstemmed | Heavy metals contamination in water, sediments and fish of freshwater ecosystems in Pakistan |
| title_short | Heavy metals contamination in water, sediments and fish of freshwater ecosystems in Pakistan |
| title_sort | heavy metals contamination in water sediments and fish of freshwater ecosystems in pakistan |
| topic | fish health heavy metals river sediments water |
| url | http://wpt.iwaponline.com/content/17/5/1253 |
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