Heavy metal pollution in surface water and sediment: A preliminary assessment of an urban river in a developing country

Contamination of heavy metals in sediment is regarded as a global crisis with a large share in developing countries like Bangladesh. Four heavy metals such as arsenic (As), chromium (Cr), cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) in sediments and water were investigated from Karnaphuli River in Bangladesh. The decreasing trend of metals were observed in water as Cr > As > Pb > Cd and in sediment Cr > Pb > As > Cd. The ranges of heavy metals in water were 13.31–53.87, 46.09–112.43, 2.54–18.34 and 5.29–27.45 μg/L and in sediments were 11.56–35.48, 37.23–160.32, 0.63–3.56 and 21.98–73.42 mg/kg for As, Cr, Cd and Pb. The level of studied metals in water samples exceeded the safe limits of drinking water, indicated that water from this river is not safe for drinking and/or cooking. Contamination factor (CF) confirmed that the sediment samples were moderate to high contamination by As, Cd and Pb. The pollution load index (PLI) values were above one (>1) indicates advanced decline of the sediment quality. This study recommended that continuous monitoring of As, Cd and Pb in water; sediment and other aquatic biota of Karnaphuli River should be directed to assess the risk of these vital metals to safe the ecology in the vicinity of this river.

Preliminary assessment of heavy metals in water and sediment of Karnaphuli River, Bangladesh

Heavy metals in surface sediments of the Jialu River, China: their relations to environmental factors.

Spatial risk assessment and sources identification of heavy metals in surface sediments from the Dongting Lake, Middle China

Studies on seasonal pollution of heavy metals in water, sediment, fish and oyster from the Meiliang Bay of Taihu Lake in China

Assessment of spatial distribution and potential ecological risk of the heavy metals in relation to granulometric contents of Veeranam lake sediments, India.

Analysis of temperature effect on ceramic brick production from alluvial deposits, Tamilnadu, India

Spectroscopic and thermal analysis of red clay for industrial applications from Tamilnadu, India

X-ray fluorescence, themogravimetric-differential thermal analysis, Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, particle size analysis and Atterberg limits were used to study physico-chemical, mineralogical and thermal properties of two types of clays from four different locations of Tamilnadu, India. The chemical and mineralogical compositions of these clays differ considerably. The mineralogy indicated that the alluvial clays (G1 and G2) comprise highly quartz, illite, kaolinite, plagioclase and small amount of chlorite. The red clays (R1 and R2) were also rich in quartz, well-ordered kaolinite and abundant Fe-bearing minerals such as goethite and hematite. With respect to chemical composition, the G1 and G2 clays contained high amount of SiO2, low amount of Al2O3 and low loss on ignition, however, the R1 and R2 clays contain moderate amount of SiO2, Al2O3, and high amount of Fe2O3 and high loss on ignition. The results indicate that clays from alluvial deposit have adequate characteristics for common brick fabrication. However, clays collected from red clay deposit possessing adequate properties for roofing tile manufacturing and can be used for the manufacturing of common brick with some modification.

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Characteristics of some clay materials from Tamilnadu, India, and their possible ceramic uses

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the distribution of petroleum hydrocarbons in ten commercial fish species and water samples in three estuaries along Tamilnadu coast, Bay of Bengal, India. Fish and water samples collected from Tamilnadu coast, India, were extracted and analyzed for petroleum hydrocarbons by ultraviolet fluorescence (UVF) spectroscopy. The petroleum hydrocarbon concentration (PHC) in coastal waters and fish species varied between 2.28 and 14.02 μg/l and 0.52 and 2.05 μg/g, respectively. The highest PHC concentration was obtained in Uppanar estuarine waters (14.02 ± 0.83) and the lowest was observed in Vellar estuarine waters (2.28 ± 0.25). Among the ten fish species, Sardinella longiceps have high PHC concentration from all the locations. This study suggests that S. longiceps can be used as a good biological indicator for petroleum hydrocarbon pollution in water. The concentration of petroleum hydrocarbons in coastal waters along Tamilnadu coast is markedly higher than that in the background, but there is no evidence for its increase in fish of this region. From a public health point, petroleum hydrocarbon residue levels in all fish samples analyzed in this study are considerably lower than the hazardous levels. At present, as Tamilnadu coastal area is in a rapid development stage of new harbour, chemical industries, power plants, oil exploration and other large-scale industries, further assessment of petroleum hydrocarbons and the various hydrodynamic conditions acting in the region are to be studied in detail and continuous pollution monitoring studies should be conducted for improving the aquatic environment. The results will also be useful for pollution monitoring program along the coastal region and also to check the levels of petroleum hydrocarbons.

P. Sutharsan

Papers

Assessment of spatial distribution and potential ecological risk of the heavy metals in relation to granulometric contents of Veeranam lake sediments, India.

Analysis of temperature effect on ceramic brick production from alluvial deposits, Tamilnadu, India

Spectroscopic and thermal analysis of red clay for industrial applications from Tamilnadu, India

Characteristics of some clay materials from Tamilnadu, India, and their possible ceramic uses

Petroleum hydrocarbon concentrations in ten commercial fish species along Tamilnadu coast, Bay of Bengal, India