Environmental Degradation Due to Industrial Activities: A Case Study on Uttara EPZ, Bangladesh| Chapter 1 | International Research in Environment, Geography and Earth Science Vol. 5

 

The objective of this study is to classify the quality of the water and soil in the Uttara Export Processing Zone (UEPZ). In order to assess the water quality of the UEPZ, five heavy metals (Fe, Cu, Mn , Pb, Cr) were selected and two indices, such as the Heavy Metal Pollution Index (HPI) and the Contamination Index (Cd), were chosen to assess the effect on water. The probability of heavy metal contamination in the soil was assessed by geological accumulation index (I) and pollution load index (PLI) methods for seven soil samples. UEPZ is the northern region 's significant industrial belt. Finding out the environmental effects of UEPZ is an significant issue. The findings showed that heavy metal concentrations in water samples were below the allowable WHO drinking water quality limits. In three places, the HPI of water samples was 20.57, which was less than 100, the vital value for drinking water. Both findings indicate that the area is moderately or slightly contaminated. For soil the geological evaluation of the cumulative index results showed that the contamination degree of 4 heavy metals follows the sequence of Mn > Zn > Fe > Cu. Then the results of PLI of seven soil sample are 1.474 > 1.398 > 1.372 > 1.308 > 1.302 > 1.290 > 1.289. Both results show the soil sample area were unpolluted to moderately polluted. Finally, an overall impact of UEPZs environment is also discussed in this paper. This paper will help the authority to take proper steps for minimizing the soil and water pollution. The legal agreements and laws should be stronger to save the environment. The environment comes first, so sustainable development is mandatory

Author (s) Details

Dr. Md. Emdadul Haque
Department of Disaster Management, Begum Rokeya University, Rangpur, Bangladesh.

Moury Shermin
Department of Disaster Management, Begum Rokeya University, Rangpur, Bangladesh.

Arifa Yasmin Mukta
Department of Disaster Management, Begum Rokeya University, Rangpur, Bangladesh.

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