Heavy metal toxicity and health risk in water body of Habiganj industrial region: An integrated assessment using spatial modeling, Monte Carlo simulation, and PMF

This study incorporates multidisciplinary approaches to evaluate water quality, pollution hotspot, and associated health risk around Habiganj Industrial area, Bangladesh. A total of 30 water samples were collected and analyzed by employing contamination indices, HMTL, HPI, WQI, and carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic health risk. The findings revealed that there was an elevated heavy metal contamination such as Cr (0.064 ± 0.072), Fe (0.291 ± 0.262), Mn (0.104 ± 0.081), Zn (0.072 ± 0.080), Cu (0.581 ± 0.505), Ni (0.025 ± 0.017), Co (0.070 ± 0.027), As (0.195 ± 0.246), and Pb (0.052 ± 0.043) in mg/L, several of which exceeded WHO and national standards. The mean value of MCI, PLI, and possible ecological risk found as 6.53,17.08, and 377.83, respectively, highlighting the elevated contamination level. According to the HPI and WQI, 40% and 17% of the water samples, respectively, were classified as unsuitable for drinking purposes. Due to skin absorption, approximately 23% of water samples provide unacceptable carcinogenic risks for adults, whereas 96% of water samples fall under the unacceptable limit (higher than 10 −4 ) for children The Monte Carlo simulation highlighted the probabilistic base of risks, as well as the uncertainty in the exposure and toxicity. Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) identified industrial effluents and urban runoff as the key sources. Vulnerable areas with immediate action were drawn out in spatial mapping. Notably, hotspots in central and southern Habiganj exhibited the highest contamination levels. The present research highlights the dire need of industrial wastewater management, ultimately which will be helpful for policymakers for unremitting environmental surveillance to curb the pollution of heavy metals and protect human health in industrial areas.