Gupta S.K., Chabukdhara M., Kumar P., Singh J., Bux F.
Institute for Water and Wastewater Technology, Durban University of Technology, South Africa; North Eastern Space Applications Centre, Umiam, Meghalaya, India; Dr. R. M. L. Avadh University Faizabad, India
Gupta, S.K., Institute for Water and Wastewater Technology, Durban University of Technology, South Africa; Chabukdhara, M., North Eastern Space Applications Centre, Umiam, Meghalaya, India; Kumar, P., Institute for Water and Wastewater Technology, Durban University of Technology, South Africa; Singh, J., Dr. R. M. L. Avadh University Faizabad, India; Bux, F., Institute for Water and Wastewater Technology, Durban University of Technology, South Africa
The aim of this study was to evaluate the extent of heavy metal pollution in river Gomti and associated ecological risk. River water, sediments and locally abundant mollusk (Viviparus (V.) bengalensis) were sampled from six different sites and analyzed for seven metals: Cadmium (Cd), Chromium (Cr), Copper (Cu), Manganese (Mn), Nickel (Ni), Lead (Pb) and Zinc (Zn). Mean metal concentrations (mg/l) in river water were 0.024 for Cd, 0.063 for Cr, 0.022 for Cr, 0.029 for Mn, 0.044 for Ni, 0.018 for Pb and 0.067 for Zn. In river sediments, the concentrations (mg/kg dry wt) were 5.0 for Cd, 16.2 for Cr, 23.2 for Cr, 203.2 for Mn, 23.9 for Ni, 46.2 for Pb and 76.3 for Zn, while in V. bengalensis mean metal concentrations (mg/kg, dry wt) were 0.57 for Cd, 12.0 for Cr, 30.7 for Cu, 29.9 for Mn, 8.8 for Ni, 3.6 for Pb and 48.3 for Zn. Results indicated elevated concentrations of Cu, Zn and Mn in V. bengalensis as compared to other non-essential elements. Potential ecological risk (RI) in sediments showed high to very high metal contamination. Cluster analysis indicated that Pb, Zn, Cd and Ni in sediments may have anthropogenic sources. The findings thus suggest heavy metal contamination of river water and sediments have reached alarming levels, which is well corroborated by elevated level of metal accumulation in V. bengalensis. © 2014 Elsevier Inc.
cadmium; chromium; copper; heavy metal; lead; manganese; nickel; river water; zinc; heavy metal; water pollutant; bioaccumulation; biomonitoring; ecological impact; environmental risk; heavy metal; mollusc; pollution effect; river pollution; sediment pollution; animal tissue; Article; bioaccumulation; chemical analysis; chemical composition; cluster analysis; concentration (parameters); controlled study; dry weight; geographic distribution; India; indicator organism; metal metabolism; metal recovery; mollusc; nonhuman; pollution monitoring; risk assessment; river ecosystem; sediment; water contamination; water pollution indicator; analysis; animal; chemistry; ecology; environmental aspects and related phenomena; environmental monitoring; gastropod; river; water pollutant; Gomti River; India; Uttar Pradesh; Viviparus; Animals; Ecological and Environmental Processes; Ecology; Environmental Monitoring; Gastropoda; Geologic Sediments; India; Metals, Heavy; Risk Assessment; Rivers; Water Pollutants, Chemical