Abstract
A study was conducted during November, 2005–October, 2006 to evaluate the surface water quality of river Ganga around Kolkata. The samples were analyzed for a number of physico-chemical parameters using standard laboratory procedures and giving prime thrust to determine the heavy metal concentrations (Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, Pb, Cd, Cr, and Ni) of surface water at four different locations of the river Ganga around Kolkata from two points (middle of the river stream and a discharge point) at each location. Out of 96 samples analyzed, Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, and Ni were detected in 71, 47, 38, 60, and 45 samples in the concentrations ranging from 0.013 to 5.49, 0.022 to 1.78, 0.003 to 0.033, 0.005 to 0.293, and 0.045 to 0.24 mg L − 1, respectively. Cd and Pb were detected in six and 21 samples in the range of 0.005 to 0.006 and 0.05 to 0.53 mg L − 1, respectively. But Cr was not detected in any of the samples analyzed. The metals exhibited no significant variation with respect to sampling locations as well as discharge points. However, the concentration of those metals varied with season, being higher in rainy and lower in winter season.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Abbasi, S. A., Abbasi, N., & Soni, R. (1998). Heavy metal in the environment (1st ed., 225 pp). New Delhi: Mital.
American Public Health Association (APHA) (1999). Standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater (20th ed.). Washington D.C.: APHA, AWWA.
Ammann, A. A., Michalke, B., & Schramel, P. (2002). Speciation of heavy metals in environmental water by ion chromatography coupled to ICP–MS. Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry, 372, 448–452. doi:10.1007/s00216-001-1115-8.
Bhargava, D. S. (1983). Use of a water quality index for river classification and zoning of Ganga River. Environmental Pollution, 6, 51–67 (Series B).
BIS (Bureau of Indian Standard) (1991). Indian standards drinking water specification, Indian Standard 10500.
Bordalo, A. A., Nilsumranchist, W., & Chalermwat, K. (2001). Water quality and uses of the Bangpakong river (Eastern Thailand). Water Research, 35, 3635–3642. doi:10.1016/S0043-1354(01)00079-3.
Bruins, M. R., Kapil, S., & Oehme, F. W. (2000). Microbial resistance to metals in the environment. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, 45, 198–207. doi:10.1006/eesa.1999.1860.
Das, R. K., Bhowmick, S., Ghosh, S. P., & Dutta, S. (1997). Coliform and fecal coliform bacterial load in a stretch of hooghly. In K. K. Vass & M. Sinha (Eds.), Proceedings of the national seminar on changing perspectives of Inland Fisheries. Inland Fisheries Society of India, Barrackpore, March 16–17, 1997, pp. 41–45.
Dean-Ross, D., & Mills, A. L. (1989). Bacterial community structure and function along a heavy metal gradient. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 55, 2002–2009.
EPA (1979). Methods for chemical analysis of waters, method 353.3. Washington D.C.: US. EPA.
Ghosh, S., & Vass, K. K. (1997). Role of sewage treatment plant in Environmental Mitigation. In K. K. Vass & M. Sinha (Eds.), Proceedings of the national seminar on changing perspectives of Inland Fisheries (pp. 36–40). Inland Fisheries Society of India, Barrackpore, March 16–17, 1997.
Gonzalez, M. J., Fernandez, M., & Hernandez, L. M. (1990). Influence of acid mine water in the distribution of heavy metal in soils of Donana National Park. Application of multivariate analysis. Environmental Technology, 11, 1027–1038.
Gupta, S. K., Mitra, A., & Adhikari, S. (1990). Post irrigation effect of Calcutta sewage effluents on soil and vegetation. In Proceedings of the National Symposium on Protection of Environment of City Water Fronts. Central Water Commission, New Delhi, IV, 7–13.
Hatje, V., Bidone, E. D., & Maddock, J. L. (1998). Estimation of the natural and anthropogenic components of heavy metal fluxes in fresh water Sinos river, Rio Grande do Sul state, South Brazil. Environmental Technology, 19, 483–487. doi:10.1080/09593331908616704.
ISI (Indian Standard Institute) (1982). Indian standard tolerance limits for inland surface water subject to pollution (2nd revision). Indian Standard: 2296.
Jain, V. K. (1978). Studies on effect of Cadmium on the growth pattern of Phaseolus aurius varieties, Absi, I. Bot. Conf. JIBS., pp. 57–84.
Jarvie, H. P., Whitton, B. A., & Neal, C. (1998). Nitrogen and phosphorus in east coast British Rivers: speciation, sources and biological significance. Science of the Total Environment, 210–211, 79–109.
Johnson, F. M. (1998). The genetic effects of environmental lead. Mutation Research, 410, 123–140.
Jonnalagadda, S. B., & Mhere, G. (2001). Water quality of the Odzi river in the Eastern highlands of Zimbabwe. Water Research, 35, 2371–2376.
Jonnalagadda, S. B., Mathuthu, A. S., Odipo, R. W., & Wandiga, S. D. (1991). River pollution in developing countries: A case study III: Effect of industrial discharges on quality of Ngong river waters in Kenya. Bulletin of Chemical Society in Ethiopia, 5, 49–64.
Joshi, H. C. (1992). Environmental mediated stress on flood plain lakes. II-Pesticides and agricultural run-off. In Y. S. Yadav & V. V. Suguman (Eds.), Compendium of FAO sponsored Foodplain Fish Mgmt. Central Inland Capture Fisheries Institute Barrackpore.
Khan, Y. S. A., Hussain, M. S., Hossain, S. M. G., & Hallimuzzaman, A. H. M. (1998). An environmental assessment of trace metals in Ganges–Brahamputra–Meghna Estuary. Journal of Remote Sensing and Environment, 2, 103–117.
Lantzy, R. J., & Mackenzie, F. T. (1979). Atmospheric trace metals: Global cycles and assessment of man’s impact. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 43, 511–525.
Marschner, H. (1995). Mineral nutrition of higher plants. London: Academic.
Mathuthu, A. S., Zaranyika, F. M., & Jonnalagadda, S. B. (1993). Monitoring of water quality in upper Mukuvisi river in Harare, Zimbabwe. Environment International, 19, 51–61.
Miller, W. W., Joung, H. H., Mahannah, C. N., & Garrett, J. R. (1986). Identification of water quality differences in Nevada through index application. Journal of Environmental Quality, 15, 265–272.
Munshi, J. S. D., Mishra, A. N., Munshi, J. D., Aditya, A. K., & Halder, P. (2000). Heavy metal pollution of Subernarekha river: Its ecological impact on water quality and biota. Biodiversity and Environment. In Proceedings of the National Seminar on Environmental Biology (pp. 63–78). Visva Bharati University, Santiniketan, India, April 3–5, 1998.
Nriagu, J. O. (1979). Global inventory of natural and anthropogenic emissions of trace metals to the atmosphere. Nature, 279, 409–411.
Ross, S. M. (1994). Toxic metals in soil–plant systems. Chichester: Wiley.
Sharma, R. K., Gupta, S. S., & Jain, O. P. (1996). Water quality index and aspects of pollution in Haldi river of Bhopal region. Journal of Ecotoxicology and Environmental Monitoring, 6, 181–187.
Simeonov, V., Stratis, J. A., Samara, C., Zahariadis, G., Voutsa, D., Anthemidis, A., et al. (2003). Assessment of the surface water quality in Northern Greece. Water Research, 37, 4119–4124.
Simeonov, V., Simeonova, P., & Tisitouridou, R. (2004). Chemometric quality assessment of surface waters: Two case studies. Chemical and Engineering Ecology, 11(6), 449–469.
Tiwari, T. N., & Ali, M. (1988). Water quality index for Indian rivers. In R. K. Trivedy (Ed.), Ecology and pollution of Indian rivers (1st ed., pp. 271–286). New Delhi: Ashish.
Tsuji, L. J. S., & Karagatzides, J. D. (2001). Chronic lead exposure, body condition and testis mass in wild mallard ducks. Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, 67, 489–495.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Wasim Aktar, M., Paramasivam, M., Ganguly, M. et al. Assessment and occurrence of various heavy metals in surface water of Ganga river around Kolkata: a study for toxicity and ecological impact. Environ Monit Assess 160, 207–213 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-008-0688-5
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-008-0688-5