Abstract
A sectorial approach for assessing heavy metal pollution in rivers neglects the inter-relationship between its environmental compartments and thus fails to report realistic pollution status and associated ecological and human health risks. Therefore, a systems approach was adopted to assess heavy metal pollution and associated risks in the Yamuna River (Delhi, India), one of the world’s most polluted and populated river–city pairs. Sampling sites selected along the river with distinct land use were uncultivated natural floodplain vegetation, marshy area, invasive community, arable land, and human settlements. The multivariate analysis identified sources of pollutions (Pb, Cd, Cr, and Ni [anthropogenic]; Fe and Zn [geogenic]). Across the land use, a high log Kp value of Zn and Pb in water–soil phase than in water–sediment phase indicates their long-range transfer, whereas low log Kp (water–soil) of Cd suggests river sediments as its reservoirs. Comparison of pollution indices of Cd, Cr, and Pb in water, sediment, and soil across the land use suggested the role of vegetation in reducing pollution in the environment. Ecological risk also gets reduced progressively from water to sediment to the soil in naturally vegetated sites. Similarly, in river water, Cr, Cd, Ni, and Pb pose carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks to adults and children, which are also reduced in sediments and soil of different vegetation regimes. This study showed the eco-remediation services rendered by natural vegetation in reducing pollution and associated ecological and human health risks. To conclude, using a systems approach has significance in assessing pollution at the ecosystem level, and focusing on riverbank land use remains significant in developing methods to reduce pollution and ecological and human health risks for sustainable riverbank management.
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Funding
RSS and LD received financial support under the Faculty Research Programme Grant–IoE (IoE/FRP/LS/2020/27 dated 31.12.2020) from the Institute of Eminence (IoE), University of Delhi (UoD). VM also received financial support from the IoE, UoD (IoE/FRP/LS/2020/27 dated 31.12.2020). PK, AY, SG, PP, and FF thank the University Grants Commission for Junior Research Fellowships.
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Pankaj Kumar: conceptualization, methodology, field sampling, investigation, formal analysis, data curation, writing of the original draft, and writing with review and editing. Vandana Mishra: conceptualization, visualization, writing with review and editing, resources, and supervision. Shalu Yadav: field sampling, methodology, investigation, and formal analysis. Archana Yadav: field sampling, material preparation, and writing with review and editing. Shafali Garg: field sampling, material preparation, and writing with review and editing. Pankaj Poria: field sampling, material preparation, and writing with review and editing. Furqan Farooqi: field sampling, material preparation, and writing with review and editing. Ludovic F. Dumée: visualization, writing with review and editing, and funding acquisition. Radhey Shyam Sharma: project administration, supervision, funding acquisition, resources, conceptualization, and writing with review and editing. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
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Kumar, P., Mishra, V., Yadav, S. et al. Heavy metal pollution and risks in a highly polluted and populated Indian river–city pair using the systems approach. Environ Sci Pollut Res 29, 60212–60231 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-022-20034-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-022-20034-2