Heavy metal pollution in freshly deposited sediments of the Yamuna River (the Ganges River tributary): a case study from Delhi and Agra urban centres, India |
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| Authors: | Munendra Singh |
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| Institution: | (1) Department of Geology, University of Lucknow, Lucknow 226007, India, IN |
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| Abstract: | The Yamuna River sediments, collected from Delhi and Agra urban centres, were analysed for concentration and distribution
of nine heavy metals by means of atomic adsorption spectrometry. Total metal contents varied in the following ranges (in mg/kg):
Cr (157–817), Mn (515–1015), Fe (28,700–45,300), Co(11.7–28.4), Ni (40–538), Cu (40–1204), Zn (107–1974), Pb (22–856) and
Cd (0.50–114.8). The degree of metal enrichment was compared with the average shale concentration and shows exceptionally
high values for Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, Pb and Cd in both urban centres. In the total heavy metal concentration, anthropogenic input
contains 70% Cr, 74% Cu, 59% Zn, 46% Pb, 90% Cd in Delhi and 61% Cr, 23% Ni, 71% Cu, 72% Zn, 63% Pb, 94% Cd in Agra. A significant
correlation was observed between increasing Cr, Ni, Zn, and Cu concentrations with increasing total sediment carbon and total
sediment sulfur content. Based on the Müller's geoaccumulation index, the quality of the river sediments can be regarded as
being moderately polluted to very highly polluted with Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, Pb and Cd in the Delhi and Agra urban centres. The
present sediment analysis, therefore, plays an important role in environmental measures for the Yamuna River and the planning
of these city centres.
Received: 21 June 1999 · Accepted: 1 October 1999 |
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| Keywords: | Heavy metals Yamuna River Sediment pollution Ganga Plain |
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