PubMed · 2026-05-11
Researchers tracked eight heavy metals in the Sundarbans mangrove forests over nearly 30 years, using AI models to predict future contamination. They found metal levels spike before monsoon rains, drop during them, then rebuild afterward — and hotspots are growing more complex, especially for zinc and iron.
Eight trace metals (including lead, zinc, copper, and cadmium) were tracked across the Sundarbans from 1995 to 2024, revealing a clear seasonal cycle of pre-monsoon enrichment, monsoon dilution, and post-monsoon re-accumulation driven by hydrology.
Spatial hotspots of zinc and iron contamination are intensifying and becoming more heterogeneous over time, signaling a shift toward more complex and harder-to-manage pollution regimes.
A hybrid AI model (LASSO-GA-BPNN) outperformed conventional statistical approaches in predicting contamination patterns, offering a new forecasting tool for conservation and pollution management planning.
