A recent study has revealed dangerously high levels of heavy metal contamination in the Turag and Shitalakkhya rivers near major industrial areas in Gazipur and Narayanganj, Bangladesh. The research, published in the scientific journal Nature, found concentrations of lead, mercury, iron, and manganese well above the World Health Organization (WHO) safe limits, raising concerns over environmental and public health risks.

According to the study titled “Heavy Metal Pollution and Health Risk Assessment in Surface Waters Impacted by Pharmaceutical Effluents in Gazipur and Narayanganj, Bangladesh,” lead levels reached up to 45 times the WHO guideline, making it the most critically elevated pollutant detected. Mercury was measured at nearly six times, iron at almost eight times, and manganese at twice the recommended safe levels. Additionally, arsenic was detected at 10.56 parts per billion in one sample, slightly exceeding the WHO threshold of 10 parts per billion.

Water samples were collected between late November 2024 and early January 2025 from 12 key sites located along industrial discharge points in the two districts, which are home to more than a thousand industrial facilities. The largest contributors to the contamination include pharmaceutical, textile, and dyeing factories. While many of these factories are equipped with effluent treatment plants, the study highlights that these systems frequently fail to adequately treat wastewater before it is released into the rivers.

Researchers from BRAC University pointed to the serious health hazards posed by the contamination. Lead exposure is associated with neurological damage in children, bone deposition, cardiovascular issues including hypertension, and kidney damage. Mercury accumulation in fish presents an additional hazard to local populations reliant on fishing for sustenance. The persistence of heavy metals in the environment complicates removal efforts and increases the likelihood of long-term ecological and human health impacts.

The study also underscores systemic challenges in enforcement, noting that the Department of Environment faces significant inspector shortages, limiting its ability to effectively monitor industrial compliance with pollution regulations. Experts advocate for stricter regulatory oversight, regular water quality monitoring, and the adoption of advanced technologies that enable remote surveillance of industrial effluent discharges to better address the pollution crisis.

The findings draw urgent attention to the urgent need for coordinated action to mitigate heavy metal contamination in the Turag and Shitalakkhya rivers, which serve as critical water sources and support livelihoods in densely populated industrial regions of Bangladesh.