Open AccessEffects of Slums on Ecosystem Components
Author(s) -
Sarafat Hossain,
Tahir Ullah Khan,
S. M. Imamul Huq
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
journal of the asiatic society of bangladesh. science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2408-8676
pISSN - 1016-6947
DOI - 10.3329/jasbs.v43i1.46247
Subject(s) - heavy metals , ecosystem , food chain , environmental science , human health , contamination , environmental protection , ecosystem services , environmental health , environmental chemistry , ecology , biology , chemistry , medicine
An in vitro study was conducted to assess the effects of slums on ecosystem services particularly soil, plant and water. The research findings indicated that, samples of soil, plant and water were contaminated with heavy metals, many of which were above permissible limits. The heavy metals exceeding the permissible limits pose serious threats to the surrounding plant and animal lives. Hence, there is a health risk associated with the consumption of the vegetables grown in the slums due to the fact that the heavy metals can bio-accumulate into human body through the food chain.
Asiat. Soc. Bangladesh, Sci. 43(1): 71-81, June 2017