Neutron activation analysis of sediments of the Padma River adjacent to Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant: Elemental and multivariate statistical approach.

This study investigated the major and trace element concentrations in the sediments of the Padma River adjacent to the under-construction Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant to have baseline elemental concentration data. Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis (INAA) was used to determine a total of twenty-three elements (Al, As, Ca, Ce, Co, Cr, Cs, Dy, Eu, Fe, Hf, La, Mn, Na, Sb, Sc, Sm, Ti, Th, U, V, Yb, and Zn). The calculation of the enrichment factor, geo-accumulation index, and pollution load index revealed that most of the sediment samples were minor to moderately contaminated by twelve elements (As, Ca, Ce, Cs, Dy, Hf, La, Sb, Sm, Th, U, and Yb).