Tracing sources-oriented ecological risks of metal(loid)s in sediments of anthropogenically-affected coastal ecosystem from northeast bay of Bengal

The current study focused on thirty-nine locations in the four islands (i.e., St. Martin, Moheskhali, Kutubdia, and Sonadia) and beach (Innani Beach) along the northeast Bay of Bengal to quantify sources-orientated ecological risks of metal(loid)s. The mean concentrations of As, Mn, Cr, Cd, and Pb are 4.8, 8.7, 1.6, 1.1, and 2 times higher than average shale volume (ASV) values. Key findings revealed that Mn, Cr, Cd, Pb, and As exceed safe levels, particularly on St. Martin and Moheshkhali islands, where tourism and coal mining intensify contamination. Ecological indexes showed moderate to considerable contamination levels, suggesting diverse impacts on aquatic life. Positive matrix factorization (PMF) model-based Nemerow integrated risk index (NIRI) indicated that mixed and coal mining sources posed a moderate risk for 10.26 % and 5.13 % of sediment samples, respectively. This paper serves as a model-based plan for mitigating pollution risks of metal(oid)s in coastal sediments on the northeast coast. •Mn, Cr, Cd, Pb, and As exceed safe levels•Mixed (10.6 %) and coal mining (5.1 %) sources posed a moderate risk•Diverse ecological indexes pose moderate risks to considerable sediment contamination levels