Persistence of Heavy Metals in River Sirsa Around Industrial Hub Baddi, India.

Abstract

The Indian riverine system has become dumping site for toxic industrial pollutants. For assessing the flow of pollutants at various trophic levels, it is primarily important to do elemental profiling first so as to detect their load in Sirsa tributary of river Sutlej flowing through foothills of Shivalik in Himachal Pradesh, around the industrial hub Baddi, Solan. The study area includes three observation sites (S1, S2, and S3) on river Sirsa and drainage system of Baddi industrial units; the Effluent Nallah as demarcated in figure1. Heavy metal concentrations in water samples were detected using inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy of elements (Ti, V, Cr, Co, Ni, As, Li, Cd, Cs, Pt, Pb, Hg) as these were found to be very common in effluents of chemical, cement, textile dyeing, electronics and pharmaceutical industries. Statistical analysis showed that the concentrations (ppb) of elements found to be within permissible limits of WHO at sites under study for seven metals (Hg, Li, Ti, V, Co, Cs, Pt) but it was higher for five toxic heavy metals (Cr, Ni, Pb, As, Cd) at S2 only, streamlined in order Cr >Ni > Pb> As >Cd >Hg >Li >Ti >V >Co > Cs > Pt. It may be due to improper installation of common effluent treatment plant (CETP) on the bank of river Sirsa or due to leakage by tanker carrying waste water from various industrial set ups as these units were not directly linked to CETP. These sites were committed to act as ultimate gutter to receive all types of industrial pollutants as part of mismanagement. The load of Arsenic and Lead is increasing in lotic region and its impact on aquatic ecosystem at trophic level can be explored to combat toxicant pollution.