Abstract
In this study, variations in physicochemical parameters and heavy metal contamination in water–sediments of a natural stream in the Durgapur industrial zone have been investigated. pH, COD, Cl−, CN− and heavy metals, viz. Pb, Hg and Fe concentrations in channel water, are higher than Indian standards. Metal concentrations in sediments are many folds higher than background value, where Pb, Cd, Hg and Cr contents exceed the sediment quality guidelines. Contamination factor (Cf) value of channel water follows the order of Hg > Pb > Fe > Cr > Cd > Cu > Ni, whereas enrichment factor and geo-accumulation index (Igeo) values in channel sediments are in the order of Hg > Cr > Ni > Pb > Cd > Fe > Cu. The assessment of contamination index (Cd), modified contamination index (mCd) and pollution load index indicates that channel water and sediment samples in the study area are strongly contaminated by heavy metals. Sediment samples based on PELQ and ERMQ are highly toxic, with high degree of potential ecological risk at all the monitored stations. Multivariate analysis infers that heavy metals in channel water and sediments are majorly sourced from industrial discharge.
Highlights
Heavy metal contamination in surface water and sediments due to industrial discharge is an issue of major environmental concern in a fast-growing country like India and has attracted the considerable attention of scientific and regulatory communities due to the persistence and toxicity of1 3 Vol.:(0123456789) 58 Page 2 of 16Applied Water Science (2019) 9:58 river due to industrial and urban discharge in Karnataka were reported by Hejabi et al (2011) and Raju et al (2012), respectively
The pH of channel water is highly alkaline with highest value at Site 3 and gradually decreases until it reaches the lowest value of 8.83 ± 1.03 at Site 8
Total dissolved solid (TDS) gives a better idea about the solid load transported by the channel water, which mainly consists of a variety of inorganic minerals including different salts (Rai 2010)
Summary
Heavy metal contamination in surface water and sediments due to industrial discharge is an issue of major environmental concern in a fast-growing country like India and has attracted the considerable attention of scientific and regulatory communities due to the persistence and toxicity of1 3 Vol.:(0123456789) 58 Page 2 of 16Applied Water Science (2019) 9:58 river due to industrial and urban discharge in Karnataka (southern India) were reported by Hejabi et al (2011) and Raju et al (2012), respectively. Shah et al (2012) assessed heavy metal contamination in the sediments of Tapti river near Hazira industrial zone, Surat (western India). The concentrations of heavy metals in water, sediments and wetland plants of the lentic water body in Singrauli industrial region and Mangalpur industrial complex were reported by Rai (2009) and Gupta et al (2008, 2010a), respectively. Heavy metals added to the aquatic system are distributed during their transport between the aqueous phase and bed sediments (Sin et al 2001). Analysis of bed sediment is a powerful approach for studying the distribution of contaminants in an aquatic system, and for reconstructing historical inputs of these contaminants, improving management strategies and evaluating the effectiveness of recent pollution control measures (Lara-Martín et al 2015)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary 
Published Version (
Free)
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call