Current Science

Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Subscription Access

A Student-Centric Research and Education Programme on Heavy Metal Pollution of Water Bodies from Selected Indian Cities


Affiliations
1 Department of Chemistry, St. Pious X Degree and PG College for Women, Snehapuri Colony, Nacharam, Hyderabad 500 076, India
2 CSIR-National Geophysical Research Institute, Uppal Road, Hyderabad 500 007, India
 

A research and education programme on environmental chemistry has been initiated to train a few selected undergraduate students so that they can take up environment-related issues and challenges for longterm sustainability of the ecosystem. The main goal of this programme is to instill 'responsible citizenship behaviour' in them in order to carry forward the huge task of environmental protection through research activities and community awareness programmes. Here we report spectrophotometer-based estimation of hexavalent chromium (9.5-337 μg l-1), lead (20-158 μg l-1), cadmium (from below detection limit to 34 μg l-1) and nickel (from below detection limit to 19 μg l-1) concentrations in different rivers, surface and groundwater bodies collected from selected cities of India. Our results indicate that with the exception of nickel, majority of the studied water bodies and aquifers are contaminated to variable degrees with the analysed dissolved heavy metals. In view of low geochemical baseline values for chromium, cadmium and lead, the origin of heavy metal pollution is inferred to be anthropogenic, mainly originating from industrial activities and indiscriminate dumping of waste material. The toxicological data are integrated with published health data and it is found that the heavy metalpolluted water bodies pose serious threat to the human population and the ecosystem. At certain sites, we suggest that remediation measures need to be taken up immediately. We also briefly highlight the novelty of this student-centric research programme.

Keywords

Environmental Chemistry, Groundwater, Heavy Metal Pollution, Student-Centric Programme.
User
Notifications
Font Size

  • Seenayya, G. and Prahalad, A. K., In situ compartmentation and bio-magnification of chromium and manganese in industrially polluted Hussainsagar Lake, Hyderabad, India. Water, Air, Soil Pollut., 1987, 35, 233–239.

  • Godgul, G. and Sahu, K. C., Chromium contamination from chromite mine. Environ. Geol., 1995, 25, 251–257.

  • Gaur, V. K., Gupta, S. K., Pandey, S. D. Gopal, K. and Misra, V., Distribution of heavy metals in sediment and water of river Gomti. Environ. Monit. Assess., 2005, 102, 419–433.

  • Satyanarayanan, M. et al., Assessment of groundwater quality in a structurally deformed granitic terrain in Hyderabad, India. Environ. Monit. Assess., 2007, 131, 117–127.

  • Bhagure, G. R. and Mirgane, S. R., Heavy metal concentrations in groundwaters and soils of Thane region of Maharashtra, India. Environ. Monit. Assess., 2011, 173, 643–652.

  • Rai, U. N., Prasad, D., Verma, S., Upadhyay, A. K. and Singh, N. K., Biomonitoring of metals in Ganga water at different ghats of Haridwar: implications of constructed wetland for sewage detoxification. Bull. Environ. Contamin. Toxicol., 2012, 89, 805–810.

  • Sharma, P. et al., Groundwater contaminated with hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)]: a health survey and clinical examination of community inhabitants (Kanpur, India). PLOS ONE, 2012, 7, e47877.

  • Singh, R. K., Sachan, V. K., Ansari, M. Q., Pandey, D. S. and Kamiyotra, J. S., Groundwater pollution due to chromium rich hazardous waste disposal in Rania–Khanchandpur area, Distt. Kanpur Dehat (R), UP, India: a case study. UP State Biodiversity Board, 2013 (published on-line); http://www.upsbdb.org/ content3.php.

  • Bielicka, A., Bojanowska, I. and Wiśniewski, A., Two faces of chromium – pollutant and bioelement. Polish J. Environ. Stud., 2005, 14, 5–10.

  • INSA, Hazardous metals and minerals pollution in India: sources, toxicity and management – a poison paper. Based on a panel discussion held in Indian National Science Academy, 2005, New Delhi on 30 November and 1 December 2010, pp. 1–24.

  • Das, A. P. and Singh, S., Occupational health assessment of chromite toxicity among Indian miners. Indian J. Occup. Environ. Med., 2011, 15(1), 6–13.

  • Link, E., Lead in drinking water. Introductory-level Geology and Human Health course in the Department of Earth Sciences, Montana State University, USA, 2012.

  • Bernard, A., Cadmium and its adverse effects on human health. Indian J. Med. Res., 2008, 128(4), 557–564.

  • Duda-Chodak, A. and Blaszczyk, U., The impact of nickel on human health. J. Elementol., 2008, 13(4), 685–696.

  • WHO, Guidelines for Drinking Water Quality, World Health Organization, Geneva, 2004, 3rd edn, ISBN 9241546387.

  • BIS, Drinking Water – Specification (Second Revision), Bureau of Indian Standard, New Delhi, 2012, IS 10500.

  • US Environmental Protection Agency, Basic information about chromium in drinking water, 2013 (published on-line); http://water.epa.gov/drink/contaminants/basicinformation/chromium.cfm

  • Gowd, S. S., and Reddy, M. R., Heavy metal contamination of surface water at Jajmau (Kanpur) and Unnao industrial areas of the Ganga Plain, Uttar Pradesh, India. In 20th Annual Goldschmidt Conference, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA, 2010, A986.

  • CPCB, Groundwater quality in Kanpur: status, sources and control measures, Centre for Pollution Control Board, 1996, GWQS/8/1996.

  • Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Government of India, Brief industrial profile of Hyderabad district; Brief industrial profile of Ranga Reddy district. 2014 (published on-line); http://dcmsme.gov.in/dips/

  • Lubick, N., India’s drug problem. Nature, 2009, 457, 640–641.

  • India Environment Portal, Killers at large, 30 August 1999 (published on-line); http://www.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/content/ 14809/killers-at-large/

  • Das Sharma, M., A cost-effective and environmentally friendly method of titration. Sch. Sci. Rev., 2007, 88(324), 12–14.

  • Goswami, D. N. and Sharda, S. S., Determination of heavy metals, viz. cadmium, copper, lead and zinc in the different matrices of the Ganges River from Rishikesh to Allahabad through differential pulse anodic striping voltametry. Int. J. Adv. Res. Chem. Sci., 2014, 1(5), 4–7.

  • Davies, B. E., A graphical estimation of the normal lead content of some British soils. Geoderma, 1983, 29, 67–75.

  • Liao, Y.-H., Determination of fingernail chromium, cadmium and lead in tannery workers. Int. J. Health, 2015, 3, 3–6.

  • MiningWatch, Potential toxic effects of chromium, chromite mining and ferrochrome production: A literature review. 2012 (published on-line); www.miningwatch.ca/chromium

  • Lin, C.-C., Wu, M.-L., Yang, C.-C., Ger, J., Tsai, W.-J. and Deng, J.F., Acute severe chromium poisoning after dermal exposure to hexavalent chromium. J. Chin. Med. Assoc., 2009, 72(4), 219–221.

  • National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Hexavalent chromium and your health. 2013 (published on-line) https://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/ materials/hexavalent_chromium_508.pdf

  • WHO, Health risks of heavy metals from long-range transboundary air pollution. WHO Regional Office for Europe, Copenhagen, Denmark, 2007.

  • Indian Institute of Health and Family Welfare. Environmental pollution and its effects on health, 2009. (published on-line) http://iihfw.org

  • Skerfving, S. and Bergdahi, I. A., Lead. In Handbook on the Toxicology of Metals (eds Nordberg, G. F. et al.), Academic Press, Elsevier, 2007, pp. 599–645.

  • Ramoo, S. K., Evolve policy to combat lead poisoning, Centre urged. The Hindu, 1 January 2000.

  • Koshie, N., Lab gets device to test lead level. The Times of India, Hyderabad, 5 March 2002.

  • Tripathi, R. M., Raghunath, R., Mahapatra, S. and Sadasivan, S., Blood lead and its effect on Cd, Cu, Zn, Fe and hemoglobin levels of children. Sci. Total Environ., 2000, 277, 161–168.

  • Burke, T., Fagliano, J., Goldoft, M., Hazen, R. E., Iglewicz, R. and McKee, T., Chromite ore processing residue in Hudson County, New Jersey. Environ. Health Perspect., 1991, 92, 131–137.

  • Brown, A. B., Leahy, M. C. and Pyrih, R. Z., In situ remediation of metals comes of age. Remediation J., 1998, 8, 81–96.

  • Jacobs, P. H. and Förstner, U., Concept of subaqueous capping of contaminated sediments with active barrier systems: ABS using natural and modified zeolites. Water Res., 1999, 33, 2083–2087.

  • Enzo, L., Zhao, F. J., Zhang, G. Y., Sun, B., Fitz, W., Zhang, H. and McGrath, S. P., In situ fixation of metals in soils using bauxite residue: chemical assessment. Environ. Pollut., 2002, 118, 435–443.

  • Powell, R. M. et al., Permeable reactive barrier technologies for contaminant remediation. US Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response, Washington DC, 1998, EPA/600/R-98/125 (September).

  • Ludwig, R. D., McGregor, R. G., Blowes, D. W., Benner, S. G. and Mountjoy, K., A permeable reactive barrier for treatment of heavy metals. Ground Water, 2002, 40, 59–66.

  • Nyer, E. and Suthersan, S., In situ reactive zones. Groundwater Monit. Remediation, 1996, 16, 70–75.

  • Yin, Y. and Allen, H. E., In situ Chemical treatment. Technology Evaluation Report TE-99-01, Groundwater Remediation Technologies Analysis Center, USA, 1999.

  • US Environmental Protection Agency, Use of monitored natural attenuation at Superfund, RCRA Corrective action and underground storage tank sites. Directive 9200.4-17, November 1997.

  • Bekins, B. A., Rittmann, B. E. and MacDonald, J. A., Natural attenuation strategy for groundwater cleanup focuses on demonstrating cause and effect. Eos, Trans. Am. Geophys. Union, 2001, 82(5), 53, 57–58.


Abstract Views: 231

PDF Views: 88




  • A Student-Centric Research and Education Programme on Heavy Metal Pollution of Water Bodies from Selected Indian Cities

Abstract Views: 231  |  PDF Views: 88

Authors

Mala Das Sharma
Department of Chemistry, St. Pious X Degree and PG College for Women, Snehapuri Colony, Nacharam, Hyderabad 500 076, India
Archana Juyal
Department of Chemistry, St. Pious X Degree and PG College for Women, Snehapuri Colony, Nacharam, Hyderabad 500 076, India
Karuna Mantha
Department of Chemistry, St. Pious X Degree and PG College for Women, Snehapuri Colony, Nacharam, Hyderabad 500 076, India
Subrata Das Sharma
CSIR-National Geophysical Research Institute, Uppal Road, Hyderabad 500 007, India

Abstract


A research and education programme on environmental chemistry has been initiated to train a few selected undergraduate students so that they can take up environment-related issues and challenges for longterm sustainability of the ecosystem. The main goal of this programme is to instill 'responsible citizenship behaviour' in them in order to carry forward the huge task of environmental protection through research activities and community awareness programmes. Here we report spectrophotometer-based estimation of hexavalent chromium (9.5-337 μg l-1), lead (20-158 μg l-1), cadmium (from below detection limit to 34 μg l-1) and nickel (from below detection limit to 19 μg l-1) concentrations in different rivers, surface and groundwater bodies collected from selected cities of India. Our results indicate that with the exception of nickel, majority of the studied water bodies and aquifers are contaminated to variable degrees with the analysed dissolved heavy metals. In view of low geochemical baseline values for chromium, cadmium and lead, the origin of heavy metal pollution is inferred to be anthropogenic, mainly originating from industrial activities and indiscriminate dumping of waste material. The toxicological data are integrated with published health data and it is found that the heavy metalpolluted water bodies pose serious threat to the human population and the ecosystem. At certain sites, we suggest that remediation measures need to be taken up immediately. We also briefly highlight the novelty of this student-centric research programme.

Keywords


Environmental Chemistry, Groundwater, Heavy Metal Pollution, Student-Centric Programme.

References





DOI: https://doi.org/10.18520/cs%2Fv111%2Fi8%2F1393-1400