Abstract
Water samples, sediments and free floating macrophytic plant, Lemna minor specimens were collected from five designated sites in Anchar lake (Srinagar, J&K, India) to assess its heavy metal (Cu, Cr, Zn, Ni, Cd, Pb) load and changes on seasonal basis. The concentration of heavy metals was determined using atomic absorption spectroscopy. Most of the samples were found within limits of maximum permissible concentrations as recommended by WHO (Guidelines for drinking water quality, pp 491–493, 2006). During all the seasons, highest concentration of all heavy metals (Cu, Cr, Zn, Ni, Cd, Pb) was recorded at highly polluted sites of the lake viz. near agricultural fields (S1), near settlements (S3) and SKIMS (S4). These sites received huge agrochemical run-off from the surrounding agricultural fields, solid and liquid wastes from the nearby catchment areas and effluents from Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) compared to control site lake centre (S5). Furthermore, most of the metals in water and sediment were found with highest concentration during autumn (Viz., Cu-1.5 ppm; Zn-0.38 ppm; Ni-1.89 ppm; Pb-0.84 ppm in water and Cu-26.9 ppm; Zn-13.6 ppm; Pb-4.33 ppm in sediment) and summer (Viz., Cr-0.68 ppm in water and Ni-4.8 ppm; Cd-2.6 ppm; Cr-8.01 ppm in sediment) seasons. Also in Lemna minor plant highest concentration was observed during summer season (Cu-29.09 ppm; Zn-19.11 ppm; Ni-5.7 ppm; Cd-1.34 ppm; Cr-9.18 ppm and Pb-9.77 ppm). From these observations, it was found that the sources of heavy metals in Anchar lake were both natural and anthropogenic ones. This study recommended that continuous monitoring of heavy metals (Viz; Cu, Cr, Zn, Ni, Cd and Pb) in water, sediment and other aquatic biota of Anchar lake should be directed to protection of ecological status of the lake and its surrounding area.
Highlights
The urban aquatic ecosystems are strongly influenced by long-term discharge of untreated domestic and industrial wastewaters, storm water run-off, accidental spills and direct solid waste dumping (Sarika and Chandramohankumar 2008)
The results of heavy metal concentrations in lake water, sediment and plant Lemna minor are shown in Tables 1, 2 and 3 and Figs. 2, 3 and 4
The results showed that the mean difference of metal concentrations in different media at all study sites was significantly different (CD < 0.05)
Summary
The urban aquatic ecosystems are strongly influenced by long-term discharge of untreated domestic and industrial wastewaters, storm water run-off, accidental spills and direct solid waste dumping (Sarika and Chandramohankumar 2008). Heavy metal contamination of lake water ecosystems is a worldwide environmental problem. The problem of heavy metal pollution is currently increasing in many lakes of Kashmir, India viz. Dal, Nigeen, Anchar etc. The direct discharge and accidental release of harmful chemical compounds from the SKIMS Institute into the Anchar lake has totally deteriorated the lake quality (ESRO 2007). Pollution of this lake is of grave concern that it is a dwelling place for many birds and is a source of fodder for animals. The main objective of the present work was to assess the heavy metal concentration in water, sediment and in Lemna minor, a free floating aquatic plant
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