A QUANTITATIVE APPRAISAL OF SEDIMENT CONTAMINATION AT KARACHI COAST, PAKISTAN | [International Journal of Biology and Biotechnology • 2021]

Author(s):

1. Rabia Majeed: Institute of Environmental Studies, University of Karachi,Karachi ,Pakistan

2. Samreen Fatima: Department of Statistics, University of Karachi,Karachi ,Pakistan

3. Muhammad Azher Khan: Institute of Environmental Studies, University of Karachi,Karachi ,Pakistan

4. Moazzam Ali Khan: Institute of Environmental Studies, University of Karachi,Karachi ,Pakistan

5. Syeda Urooj Fatima: Institute of Environmental Studies, University of Karachi,Karachi ,Pakistan

6. Yumna Sajid: Department of Statistics, University of Karachi,Karachi ,Pakistan

Abstract:

Unsustainable industrialization and exponential growth of human population in the metropolis of Karachi is responsible for extensive pollution all long the Karachi coast. The major source of pollution is the unregulated and untreated discharges of domestic and industrial effluent that is not only responsible for coastal water pollution but are being deposited in the seawater sediments and disrupting the benthic biodiversity. This study covers an extensive 2 years pollution survey of Karachi coastal water sediments at ten sampling sites to evaluate physicochemical profile of the Karachi coastal water sediments. The pollution monitoring is further supplemented by GIS studies so as to determine the spatial distribution of pollutants in the sediments. The study revealed that pH of the sampling sites is mostly towards neutral to slightly alkaline whereas the dissolved oxygen concentration was fairly low that showed high concentration of organic pollution in the sediments. The BOD levels were also higher that further confirms the continuous deposition of organic load in the Karachi coastal water sediments. COD concentration in the sediments samples were exceptionally higher that confirms the dumping of untreated industrial effluents. Similarly, theconcentration of Oil and grease, phenol and cyanide have shown alarming trends. The concentrations of nutrient parameters (Total Kjeldahl nitrogen and phosphate) also represent heavy loads of pollution entering in to the sea through municipal and industrial effluents. The concentration of heavy metals was in the order of Ni > Pb > Cd > Cr > As at the sampling locations. The present research concluded that the coastal sediments show heavy pollution loads of chemical and metal pollution that is likely to hamper the costal ecosystems. There is a dire need that strict regulations be implemented to secure costal biodiversity of the region.

Page(s): 471-484

DOI: DOI not available

Published: Journal: International Journal of Biology and Biotechnology, Volume: 18, Issue: 3, Year: 2021

Keywords:

GIS , Heavy metals , Heavy metals , Karachi , Toxicity , Sediments , Pollutant

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