Abstract
Heavy metal pollution of the river systems of Asia is a serious environmental problem and the main source of pollution is mining activities, urbanisation, industrialisation, agricultural runoff and inadequate waste water treatment. This paper brings together the sources of heavy metal contamination in Asian rivers, distribution, effects on the environment and human health, methods of assessment and remediation. Using a systematic approach, the articles published from 2000 to 2025 were selected according to the principles of the PRISMA 2020; after screening, 200 articles were included in the study. The main causes of heavy metal pollution were found to be mining, industrial effluents, agricultural practices, and municipal wastewater. The evaluated studies have confirmed that municipal, mining, industrial and agricultural effluents are the major sources of heavy metal pollution. The often reported pollutants that accumulated in the river water, river sediments and aquatic organisms, causing ecological disruption and potential health impacts – both cancer causing and not – included Pb, Cd, Hg, As, Cr, Ni, Cu and Zn. Evaluation methods included HPI, HEI, Igeo, EF, PERI, HQ and CR. Sustainable remediation methods with promising results include phytoremediation, bioremediation, adsorption, membrane filtration and nanotechnology. The integrated monitoring, efficient wastewater management, regulatory enforcement and sustainable remediation are essential for protecting the freshwater resources and human health in Asia.
Keywords:
Asian Rivers, River sediments, Water Pollution, Hazards to human health and the environment, Heavy metals, Environmental monitoring, Remediation technology.
