Assessment of Heavy Metal Contamination and Ecological Risk in Urban River Sediments: A Case Study from Leyte, Philippines

This study evaluated heavy metal (HM) contamination in sediments from the Malbasag River in the Ormoc City port, Leyte, Philippines. A total of thirty sediment samples were collected randomly from ten locations along the river using an Ekman grab sampler. Atomic absorption spectrophotometry revealed...

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Main Authors: Abu Bakar Siddique, Abu Sayed Al Helal, Teofanes A. Patindol, Deejay M. Lumanao, Kleer Jeann G. Longatang, Md. Alinur Rahman, Lorene Paula A. Catalvas, Anabella B. Tulin, Molla Rahman Shaibur
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-03-01
Series:Pollutants
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4672/5/1/7
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author Abu Bakar Siddique
Abu Sayed Al Helal
Teofanes A. Patindol
Deejay M. Lumanao
Kleer Jeann G. Longatang
Md. Alinur Rahman
Lorene Paula A. Catalvas
Anabella B. Tulin
Molla Rahman Shaibur
author_facet Abu Bakar Siddique
Abu Sayed Al Helal
Teofanes A. Patindol
Deejay M. Lumanao
Kleer Jeann G. Longatang
Md. Alinur Rahman
Lorene Paula A. Catalvas
Anabella B. Tulin
Molla Rahman Shaibur
author_sort Abu Bakar Siddique
collection DOAJ
description This study evaluated heavy metal (HM) contamination in sediments from the Malbasag River in the Ormoc City port, Leyte, Philippines. A total of thirty sediment samples were collected randomly from ten locations along the river using an Ekman grab sampler. Atomic absorption spectrophotometry revealed HM concentrations in the order of Mn > Zn > Cu > Ni > Pb > Cd. All HMs exceeded their sediment quality guideline (SQG) thresholds except for Mn. Contamination was assessed using indices such as the contamination factor (CF), pollution load index (PLI), geo-accumulation index (I<sub>geo</sub>), and enrichment factor (EF). The CF values indicated “moderate to considerable” contamination for Zn, Ni, and Cd, while Cu and Pb showed “very high” contamination levels. The PLI results indicated severe sediment degradation in 20% of samples. The I<sub>geo</sub> analysis classified 60% of the samples as “heavily to extremely polluted” for Cd, Cu, and Pb. EF analysis suggested that anthropogenic sources contributed to elevated HM levels, including port activities and agricultural runoff. Ecological risk index (RI) analysis revealed moderate risk in 40% and considerable risk in 20% of sampling locations. Multivariate analyses suggested significant anthropogenic contributions to HM contamination, highlighting the need for further studies to assess the ecological impacts.
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spelling doaj-art-6fa3eee7afe34598934ebbd9a89562392025-08-20T01:49:01ZengMDPI AGPollutants2673-46722025-03-0151710.3390/pollutants5010007Assessment of Heavy Metal Contamination and Ecological Risk in Urban River Sediments: A Case Study from Leyte, PhilippinesAbu Bakar Siddique0Abu Sayed Al Helal1Teofanes A. Patindol2Deejay M. Lumanao3Kleer Jeann G. Longatang4Md. Alinur Rahman5Lorene Paula A. Catalvas6Anabella B. Tulin7Molla Rahman Shaibur8Institute of Tropical Ecology and Environmental Management, Visayas State University, Baybay City 6521, PhilippinesInstitute of Tropical Ecology and Environmental Management, Visayas State University, Baybay City 6521, PhilippinesInstitute of Tropical Ecology and Environmental Management, Visayas State University, Baybay City 6521, PhilippinesDepartment of Soil Science, Visayas State University, Baybay City 6521, PhilippinesInstitute of Tropical Ecology and Environmental Management, Visayas State University, Baybay City 6521, PhilippinesIntegrated Science and Technology (ISAT), College of Science and Technology, Southeastern Louisiana University, Hammond, LA 70402, USADepartment of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, Visayas State University, Baybay City 6521, PhilippinesDepartment of Soil Science, Visayas State University, Baybay City 6521, PhilippinesDepartment of Environmental Science and Technology, Jashore University of Science and Technology, Jashore 7408, BangladeshThis study evaluated heavy metal (HM) contamination in sediments from the Malbasag River in the Ormoc City port, Leyte, Philippines. A total of thirty sediment samples were collected randomly from ten locations along the river using an Ekman grab sampler. Atomic absorption spectrophotometry revealed HM concentrations in the order of Mn > Zn > Cu > Ni > Pb > Cd. All HMs exceeded their sediment quality guideline (SQG) thresholds except for Mn. Contamination was assessed using indices such as the contamination factor (CF), pollution load index (PLI), geo-accumulation index (I<sub>geo</sub>), and enrichment factor (EF). The CF values indicated “moderate to considerable” contamination for Zn, Ni, and Cd, while Cu and Pb showed “very high” contamination levels. The PLI results indicated severe sediment degradation in 20% of samples. The I<sub>geo</sub> analysis classified 60% of the samples as “heavily to extremely polluted” for Cd, Cu, and Pb. EF analysis suggested that anthropogenic sources contributed to elevated HM levels, including port activities and agricultural runoff. Ecological risk index (RI) analysis revealed moderate risk in 40% and considerable risk in 20% of sampling locations. Multivariate analyses suggested significant anthropogenic contributions to HM contamination, highlighting the need for further studies to assess the ecological impacts.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4672/5/1/7anthropogenic activitiesheavy metalsurban river sedimentpollution indicesecological riskmultivariate statistical methods
spellingShingle Abu Bakar Siddique
Abu Sayed Al Helal
Teofanes A. Patindol
Deejay M. Lumanao
Kleer Jeann G. Longatang
Md. Alinur Rahman
Lorene Paula A. Catalvas
Anabella B. Tulin
Molla Rahman Shaibur
Assessment of Heavy Metal Contamination and Ecological Risk in Urban River Sediments: A Case Study from Leyte, Philippines
Pollutants
anthropogenic activities
heavy metals
urban river sediment
pollution indices
ecological risk
multivariate statistical methods
title Assessment of Heavy Metal Contamination and Ecological Risk in Urban River Sediments: A Case Study from Leyte, Philippines
title_full Assessment of Heavy Metal Contamination and Ecological Risk in Urban River Sediments: A Case Study from Leyte, Philippines
title_fullStr Assessment of Heavy Metal Contamination and Ecological Risk in Urban River Sediments: A Case Study from Leyte, Philippines
title_full_unstemmed Assessment of Heavy Metal Contamination and Ecological Risk in Urban River Sediments: A Case Study from Leyte, Philippines
title_short Assessment of Heavy Metal Contamination and Ecological Risk in Urban River Sediments: A Case Study from Leyte, Philippines
title_sort assessment of heavy metal contamination and ecological risk in urban river sediments a case study from leyte philippines
topic anthropogenic activities
heavy metals
urban river sediment
pollution indices
ecological risk
multivariate statistical methods
url https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4672/5/1/7
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