Concentration Of Heavy Metals In Groundwater Research Articles

Heavy metal contamination of groundwater due to fly ash disposal of coal-fired thermal power plant, Parichha, Jhansi, India

AbstractThe present study focused on the groundwater contamination due to fly ash disposal of coal-fired thermal power plant into a non liner ash pond. Six villages were selected as study site around ash pond of Parichha thermal power plant, Jhansi. Groundwater samples were collected on seasonal basis; winter season (January 2015), pre monsoon season (May 2015), and monsoon season (August 2015) using composite sampling method. Five heavy metals (Pb, Ni, Cr, Mn, and Fe) were detected in coal, fly ash, and groundwater samples. Heavy metal concentration in coal and fly ash was assessed by Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence, while AAS was used for groundwater assessment. Heavy metal concentration in groundwater was ranged as Pb (0.170–0.581 ppm), Ni (0.024–0.087 ppm), Fe (0.186–11.98 ppm), Cr (0.036–0.061 ppm), and Mn (0.013–0.178 ppm). The observed results revealed the exceeding value of heavy metals prescribed by WHO for groundwater.

Comparison of heavy metal concentrations in groundwater in a mangrove wetland and a bald beach in Dongzhaigang National Nature Reserve (DNNR), China

A mangrove transect (M–M′) and a bald beach transect (B–B′) were selected in Dongzhaigang National Nature Reserve, China for conducting a comparative study about groundwater chemical characteristics. It was found that the average concentration of Cl− in groundwater sampled from M–M′ was much lower than that of B–B′. However, concentrations of heavy metals Ba, Mn, Pb, Sb in groundwater of M–M′ were significantly higher than those of B–B′. The average concentrations of Ba, Mn, Pb, Sb were 0.13, 0.83, 0.25 and 0.32 mg/L in M–M′, respectively, and 0.09, 0.27, 0.19 and 0.21 mg/L in B–B′, respectively. Both transects were affected by the human activities such as aquacultures. The high concentration of Sb in the groundwater of transect M–M′ may be mainly due to high concentration of Sb in the Yanfeng River. The higher concentrations of Ba, Mn, Pb in groundwater in M–M′ might be attributed to the accumulating and enriching effects of the mangrove systems on heavy metals. The mechanism of accumulating and enriching need to be further investigated in the future.

Contamination of groundwater in the coastal area of St. Petersburg

The Finnish Gulf is the most vulnerable part of the Baltic Sea. The main reasons for Baltic Sea contamination are direct wastewater discharge, river and underground runoff and oil spills. This article deals with the problem of groundwater pollution in the territory of St. Petersburg. Groundwater from this area discharges directly to the Finish Gulf or into rivers and channels of the gulf. The main goal of this article was to study spatial-temporal changes in petroleum products and heavy metals concentrations in groundwater of different hydrogeological levels. To achieve this goal, data from 150 groundwater wells were analyzed. As result, the most affected areas of St. Petersburg and possible polluters were indentified. Refs 7. Figs 6. Table 1.

Estimation of spatial distribution of heavy metals in groundwater using interpolation methods and multivariate statistical techniques; its suitability for drinking and irrigation purposes in the Middle Black Sea Region of Turkey.

Monitoring of heavy metal concentrations in groundwater potentially used for drinking and irrigation is very important. This study collected groundwater samples from 78 wells in July 2012 and analyzed them for 17 heavy metals (Pb, Zn, Cr, Mn, Fe, Cu, Cd, Co, Ni, Al, As, Mo, Se, B, Ti, V, Ba). Spatial distributions of these elements were identified using three different interpolation methods [inverse distance weighing (IDW), radial basis function (RBF), and ordinary kriging (OK)]. Root mean squared error (RMSE) and mean absolute error (MAE) for cross validation were used to select the best interpolation methods for each parameter. Multivariate statistical analysis [cluster analysis (CA) and factor analysis (FA)] were used to identify similarities among sampling sites and the contribution of variables to groundwater pollution. Fe and Mn levels exceeded World Health Organization (WHO) recommended limits for drinking water in almost all of the study area, and some locations had Fe and Mn levels that exceeded Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) guidelines for drip irrigation systems. Al, As, and Cd levels also exceeded WHO guidelines for drinking water. Cluster analysis classified groundwater in the study area into three groups, and factor analysis identified five factors that explained 73.39% of the total variation in groundwater, which are as follows: factor 1: Se, Ti, Cr, Mo; factor 2: Ni, Mn, Co, Ba; factor 3: Pb, Cd; factor 4: B, V, Fe, Cu; and factor 5: AS, Zn. As a result of this study, it could be said that interpolation methods and multivariate statistical techniques gave very useful results for the determination of the source.

GROUNDWATER AND SURFACE WATER QUALITY ASSESSMENT NEAR THE CLOSED MUNICIPAL LANDFILL

During the current research the level of groundwater (piezometers P2,P3,P4) and surface water (reservoir B) contamination during landfill operation and after its closure were examined. 113 samples of groundwater and surface water were collected from spring 2005 until spring 2012, i.e. three years after the landfill closure. The samples were analyzed for pH, EC, PAH, TOC and six heavy metals: Cr, Hg, Zn, Pb, Cd, Cu. The heavy metal concentration in groundwater and surface water both during landfill operations and after the landfill closure remained on a similar level and did not exceed permissible levels determined by WHO. Cr was an exception, because its concentration, during landfill exploitation, reached the value of 0.028 mg/l in surface water. In all examined after the landfill was closed a decrease in the EC value was observed. With the landfill closure the TOC concentration in groundwater increased from 1.8–3.4 to 2.07–3.6 mg/l and the PAH concentration from 0.01 to 0.02 mikrog/l. It may be attributed to a slowdown of decomposition in landfill. An additional PAH source for ground and surface water are surface run-offs form road pavements, yards and parking lots. The remaining high TOC level in a surface reservoir after the landfill closure is also a result of eurotrophisation, which enriches water with organic substances. Seasonal changes in the concentration of pollutants were observed, resulting both from their dilution by atmospheric precipitation (EC, pH, Cd, Cu) and due to washing them out from neighboring areas and enriching with them the analyzed water (Cu, PAH, Hg).

Environmental impact assessment of air and heavy metal concentration in groundwater of Maheshwaram watershed, ranga reddy district, Andhra Pradesh

Anthropogenic activities in Maheshwaram watershed have deteriorated water, air and soil quality during the last ten years due to rapid urbanisation and industrial development. Maheshwaram watershed experienced drastic changes in land use pattern, being very close to the Hyderabad city. Base-line data was collected during post monsoon season (October-November) of 2010 in Maheshwaram watershed to assess the impacts of change in land use, urbanisation and industrialisation on air, water and soil quality for Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). Air samples were analysed for Suspended Particulate Matter (SPM) and Respirable Suspended Particulate Matter (RSPM). Groundwater samples were analysed for pH; EC; TDS; TH; cations, anions and heavy metals viz., Fe, Mn, Al, Si, V, Cr, As, Sr, Rb, Se, Ba, Li, B, Be, Co, Ni, Zn, Cd, and Pb using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). Analysed data were compared with the National and International Standards and subjected to Factor Analysis (FA) for six chemical variables to assess and characterise hydro-chemical processes. A comparison of the results of groundwater samples with WHO and BIS guidelines show that most of the groundwater samples are heavily contaminated with heavy metals like lead, chromium, nickel, barium, aluminium, boron and selenium, which was quantified and presented in the form of spatial variation diagrams prepared using ArcGIS. 9.3.1. Similarly the results of air samples compared with the Central Pollution Control Board, Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India guidelines show that most of the air samples for residential, rural and industrial areas are contaminated by SPM and RSPM.

Seasonal Variability of Trace and Heavy Metals Concentration in Groundwater and its Quality for Drinking and Irrigation Purpose under Phuleli Canal Command Area (Sindh), Pakistan

The availability of good quality groundwater is a serious problem not only for drinking purpose but also for agriculture production. Human health problems due to waterborne diseases are commonly reported in Phuleli Canal Command area. In this context, a study was conducted to find out the existence of heavy metals as well as trace elements in groundwater of Phuleli Canal Command area, (Sindh) Pakistan which were affected by seasonal variability. The groundwater samples were collected from different seven locations i.e. RD-0, RD-30, RD-50, RD-70, RD-90, RD-110 and RD-130 throughout four seasons (summer, autumn, winter, and spring). Results of analysis of groundwater samples showed that Fe, Cd, Cr and Pb concentration in groundwater was higher than WHO permissible limit while Cu and Mn concentrations were greater than FAO limit. Comparatively heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Pb and As) concentrations in groundwater were higher towards downstream reach in winter as compared to upstream reach. Regarding seasons, the values of these parameters decreased in autumn>spring>summer. The results also showed increasing trend of heavy metal concentrations towards downstream reach (RD 130>110>90>70>50>30>0). It was concluded that groundwater in Phuleli Canal Command area contains highly toxic metals above the permissible limits of WHO and FAO for human consumption and agricultural crops respectively. Hence, people using groundwater, directly or indirectly, at downstream reach of the canal are at health risk.

Heavy metals concentrations in groundwater used for irrigation.

The main objective of this study was characterization of selected heavy metals concentrations (Lead, cadmium, copper, zinc, nickel and chromium) in groundwater used for ir-rigation in Tabriz City's countryside. After consulting with the experts of agriculture department and site survey, 38 irriga-tion water samples were taken from different farms (34 wells) without primary coordination with farm owners. All of samples were acidified to achieve pH≈2 and then were concentrated from 10 to 1 volume. The concentrations of Cd, Pb, Cu, Cr, Ni, and Zn in the samples (totally 228) were determined with a flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer. In none of 38 farms, irrigation with surface runoff and industrial wastewater was ob-served. The average concentrations of Cd, Pb, Cu, Cr, Ni, and Zn in the irrigated water were de¬termined 6.55, 0.79, 16.23, 3.41, 4.49, and 49.33µg/L, respectively. The average and even maxi¬mum concentrations of heavy metals in the irrigation water at the studied area were less than toxicity threshold limits of agricultural water. Currently, not using of surface runoff and industrial wastewater as irrigation water by farmers indicates that the controlling efforts by authorities have been effective in the area. Water used for irrigation of the farms and groundwater of the studied area are not polluted with heavy metals and there is no risk from this viewpoint in the region.

Heavy metals profiles in a groundwater system at a solid waste disposal site, Taiping, Perak

This paper presents the distribution of heavy metals in a groundwater system at a solid waste disposal site in Taiping, Perak. In this study several boreholes were constructed within the solid waste disposal site. Soil samples were collected from the alluvial deposits at 1 m intervals between 6 and 30 m depths from 6 boreholes using a down-hole hammer. The pore water content of the samples and the ground water was extracted in order to determine the concentrations of heavy metals, such as lead (Pb), manganese (Mn), chromium (Cr), iron (Fe), zinc (Zn) and cadmium, (Cd) using the Inductively Couple Plasma Spectrometer (ICP-MS). From the profiling results, the penetration of heavy metals into the groundwater system was obtained. A profile of heavy metal concentrations in the pore water of the core samples at several boreholes within the study area, and heavy metals concentration in groundwater under different conditions were obtained. Some of the heavy metals concentration such as Pb, Mn, Zn and Fe were high. These high concentrations exceed the maximum permissible concentration as specified in the Drinking Water Standard. Based on contour diagrams, the heavy metals can be detected down to 25 m depth towards the southeast of the landfill and appear to be localized.

Acid mine drainage and heavy metal contamination in groundwater of metal sulfide mine at arid territory (BS mine, Western Australia)

The issues of acid mine drainage (AMD) and heavy metals contamination in the metal sulfide mine in the arid district were explored, through studying the acidification and the heavy metals distribution and evolution of groundwater in the black swan (BS) nickel sulfide mine (Western Australia). The groundwater samples were collected from the drilling holes situated in the vicinity of tailings storage facility (TSF) and in the background of the mine (away from TSF), respectively, and the pH and electric conductivity ( E c) were measured in site and the metal contents were analysed by ICP-MS and ICP-AES, quarterly in one hydrological year. The results disclose that the TSF groundwater is remarkably acidified (pH mean≈5, pH min=3), and the average contents of heavy metals (Co, Cu, Zn, Cd) and Al, Mn are of 1–2 orders of magnitude higher in TSF groundwater than in background groundwater. It may be due to the percolation of tailings waste water from mill process, which leads the tailings to oxidize and the deep groundwater to acidify and contaminate with heavy metals. Besides, the heavy metals concentration in groundwater may be controlled by pH mainly.