Assessment of the environmental impact on the ecosystem of Doon–valley by auto workshops effluents

Abstract

Environmental pollution and its consequences on humans and other living organisms have received increased public attention in recent years. Consumer interest in taking practical corrective measures to preserve lubricants and use them properly has increased as a result of rising environmental consciousness and stricter legislative restrictions on the usage of petroleum products. The numberof petroleum products contaminated with inorganic contaminants has increased significantly over time. Vehicle servicing centers dump untreated harmful effluents including heavy metals, oils/grease, and other toxic compounds into the soil and groundwater system on a daily basis, polluting the soil and groundwater system. This contaminates the groundwater and enters the food chain via soil and plants, providing a health risk to humans.The current study focuses on the soil and water quality in and surrounding motor maintenance workshops present in the Dehradun valley during the pre-and post-monsoon seasons. To assessthe environmental impact of effluents, samples were collected from the motor servicing centers and its surrounding. The wastewater created by auto repair workshops was collected and analyzed. Basic physicochemicalproperties of the water sample were determined, including temperature, turbidity, TDS, conductivity, pH, DO, bicarbonates, total hardness, calcium hardness,the concentration of calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, and oil and grease. Using a spectrophotometer, air samples were also analyzed for various parameters such as SPM, RSPM, SOx, and NOx. The concentration of oil and grease in the wastewater of motor servicing centers was found to be alarmingly high, exceeding WHO and BIS recommendations. The lubricants that come out of the vehicles or industries are disposed of either directly or indirectly into the ground without having proper disposal plans, and the latter contaminates not only the soil but also the groundwater system of the area.