Combination of contamination indices and ecological risk assessment index for evaluation of pollution level in sediments

Abstract Sediments act as the key storehouse of heavy metals (HMs) and play a vital function in the transport and potential discharge of HMs. Lower basins and agricultural areas are frequently inundated with various pollutants from different origins, which are categorized as constant, bioaccumulative, and unsafe pollutants. Moreover, the unrestricted development of urban and rural parts of developing countries has a great influence on water quality and ultimately on sediments. The human contributions to HM pollution and allied ecological and health risks are discussed in this chapter. Also in this chapter, details of the single pollution indices and multiple pollution indices are described. Furthermore, human health risks using ingestion, dermal, and inhalation routes and noncarcinogenic and carcinogenic risks are assessed.