Abstract
The negative impacts of pollution due to trace metals in wastewater on aquatic ecosystem and related organisms in water bodies are on the increase. This paper deals with the investigation on the pollution indices of trace metals in selected wastewater samples of Nitte Town, Udupi District, Karnataka State, India. Twelve wastewater samples were obtained from Students Hostels, Auto-Service Workshop Station, Foundry, Laundry, Landfill Leachate and Wastewater Treatment Plant Inlet. The measured heavy metals in the samples include: Copper (Cu), Lead (Pb), Magnesium (Mg), Chromium (Cr), Nickel (Ni), Zinc (Zn), Manganese (Mn) and Cadmium (Cd), using the air-acetylene-operated Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometer (FAAS), Avanta GM model. The results were all compared with the EPA Effluent Standards. Findings revealed that all samples recorded dwindling levels of trace metals pollution when compared with the Standards. The heaviest concentration occurred in Cd with as high as 1856.4 ppm as found in the Stale Landfill Leachate sample, while the least contaminating metal in the samples is Manganese which was detected in only Aerated Wastewater Treatment Plant sample (2.3 ppm). This study is therefore recommending Electro-coagulation treatment method for trace metals with high concentration levels like Cd, Pb, Mg and Cu, while those with lesser concentration such as Mn, Cr, Ni and Zn in the samples are suggested to be treated with chemical precipitation method.
Highlights
The term “trace metal” includes a number of chemical elements that occur in natural systems in small concen-How to cite this paper: Ojoawo, S.O. and Udayakumar, G. (2014) Susceptibility of Some selected Nitte Municipal Wastewater Sources to Trace Metals Pollution
The main objective of this paper is to investigate the levels of concentrations of selected trace metals in the municipal waste water of Nitte Community with a view to determining their pollution status
From the table it is generally observed that for all the measured trace metals in the sewage samples there are dwindling levels of pollution recorded when values are compared with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Standards
Summary
The term “trace metal” includes a number of chemical elements that occur in natural systems in small concen-How to cite this paper: Ojoawo, S.O. and Udayakumar, G. (2014) Susceptibility of Some selected Nitte Municipal Wastewater Sources to Trace Metals Pollution. How to cite this paper: Ojoawo, S.O. and Udayakumar, G. (2014) Susceptibility of Some selected Nitte Municipal Wastewater Sources to Trace Metals Pollution. Boron (B), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), nickel (Ni), and zinc (Zn), widely used in industrial processing and in manufacturing of consumer goods, are the most common trace metals in municipal wastewaters [1]. It has been noted that the significant part of the anthropogenic emissions of heavy metals ends up in wastewater [3]. Most of the industrial sources of trace metals include surface treatment processes with elements such as Cd, Pb, Mn, Cu, Zn, Cr, Hg, As, Fe and Ni, as well as industrial products that, at the end of their life, are discharged in wastewater. Volume of sewage water increases through household effluents, drainage water, business effluents (e.g., car washes, dental uses, other enterprises, etc.), atmospheric deposition, and traffic related emissions (vehicle exhaust, brake linings, tires, asphalt wear, gasoline/oil leakage, etc.) transported with storm water into the sewerage system [4] [5]
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