Skip to main content

Distribution of heavy metals in water and sediments of selected sites of Yamuna river (India)

Environmental Monitoring of the Yamuna River — Part I

Abstract

The concentration of Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn metals in water and sediments of Yamuna river were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry in the year 1981. The data showed that there was considerable variation in the concentration of elements from one sampling station to the other which may be due to the variation in the quality of industrial and sewage wasters being added to the river at different sampling stations. The sediment samples collected from different sampling stations were also analysed for calcium carbonate, organic matter, potassium, and phosphorus.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

References

  • Ajmal, M., Nomani, A. A., and Khan, M. A.: 1983, ‘Analysis of Effluents and Receiving Waters Arising from the Coal Fired Kasimpur Thermal Power Plant’, Wat. Sci. Tech. 15, 227–236.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ajmal, M., Khan, M. A., and Nomani, A. A.: 1984, ‘Distribution of Heavy Metals in Water and Sediments from the Ganga River’ (communicated).

  • Angino, E. E., Magnuson, L. M., Waugh, T. C., Galle, O. K., and Bredfeldt, J.: 1970. ‘Arsenic in Detergents — Possible Danger and Pollution Hazard’, Science 168, 389–390.

    Google Scholar 

  • Banat, K., Forstner, U., and Muller, G.: 1972, ‘Schwermetall-Anreicherungen in den Sedimenten wichtiger Flusse im Bereich der Bundesrepublik Deutschland, eine Bestandsaufnahme’, Internal Rep. Lab. Sedimentforsch, Heidelberg.

    Google Scholar 

  • Berner, R.: 1970, ‘Iron-Abundance in Natural Waters’, in Handbook of Geochemistry, Wedepohl, K. H. (ed.), Berlin, Heidelberg, New York, Springer, pp. 26.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cooper, B. S. and Harris, R. C.: 1974, ‘Heavy Metals in Organic Phases of River and Estuarine Sediment’, Mar. Pollut. Bull. 5, 24–26.

    Google Scholar 

  • Curtis, C. D.: 1966, ‘The Incorporation of Soluble Organic Matter into Sediments and its Effect on Trace Element Assemblages’, in Advances in Organic Geochemistry, Hobson, G. D. and Louis, M. C. (eds.), Oxford, Pergamon, pp. 1–13.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dean, J. G., Bosqui, F. L., and Lanouetle, K. H.: 1972, ‘Removing Heavy Metals from Waste Water’, Environ. Sci. Technol. 6, 518–522.

    Google Scholar 

  • Delisle, C. E. and Demers, R. L.: 1977, ‘Le mercuse au nord-ouest quebecois’, Eau Du Quebec 10(3), 218–222.

    Google Scholar 

  • Goldberg, E. D., Broeeker, W. S., Gross, H. G., and Turekian, K. K.: 1971, ‘Marine Chemistry’, in Radioactivity in Marine Environment Seymour, A. H. (ed.), U.S. National Academy of Sciences, Washington, pp. 137–146.

    Google Scholar 

  • Groth, P.: 1971, ‘Untersuchungen über einige Spurenelemente in Scen’, Arch. Hydrobiol. 68, 305–375.

    Google Scholar 

  • Khan, N. A., Ahmad, A., Nomani, A. A., and Ajmal, M.: 1981, ‘Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometric Studies on Commercial Fertilizers as a Source of Cd and Zn in Soil and River Water’, Environ. Pollut. (B), 2, 259–64.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lee, G. F.: 1975, ‘Role of Hydroxous Metal Oxides in the Transport of Heavy Metals in the Environment’, in Heavy Metals in the Aquatic Environment, Krenicel, P. A. (ed.), Oxford: Pergamon Press, pp. 137–147.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lee, K. W. and Keeney, D. R.: 1975, ‘Spectrophotometric Determination of Cadmium and Zinc in Soil and Commercial Fertilizers’, Water, Air, and Soil Pollut. 5, 109–112.

    Google Scholar 

  • Livingstone, D. A.: 1963, ‘Chemical Composition of Rivers and Lakes’, in Data of Geochemistry, Fleischer, M. (ed.), U.S. Geol. Surv. Prof. Paper 440-G, pp. 64.

  • Malmquist, P. A.: 1975, ‘Heavy Metals in Urban Storm Water’, Abstr. Int. Conf. Heavy Met. Environ., Toronto, C-46/48.

  • Martin, J. H., Bruland, K. W., and Broenkow, W. W.: 1976, ‘Cadmium Transport in California Current’, in Marine Pollutant Transfer, Windom, H. L. and Duce, R. A. (eds.), Lexington, pp. 159–184.

  • Menasveta, P., Phayomyam, C., and Sawangwong, P.: 1979, ‘Distribution of Heavy Metals, DDT, PCBS, and Certain Pollution Parameters in the Chao Phraya River Estuary’, Institute of Environmental Research, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, pp. 71.

    Google Scholar 

  • Metzner, A. V.: 1977, ‘Removing Soluble Metals from Waste Water’, Water and Sewage Works 124, 98–101.

    Google Scholar 

  • Muller, G., Irion, G., and Forstner, U.: 1972, ‘Formation and Diagenesis of Inorganic Ca-Mg Carbonates in the Lacustrine Environment’, Naturwissenschaften 59, 158–164.

    Google Scholar 

  • Oliver, B. G. and Kinrade, J.: 1972, ‘Heavy Metal Concentrations in Ottawa River and Rideau River Sediments’, Canada Inland Water Branch, Ottawa, Scientific series No. 14, 13.

    Google Scholar 

  • Parker, C. R.: 1972, ‘Water Analysis by Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy’, Varian Techtron Pty Ltd., Australia.

    Google Scholar 

  • Patchineelam, S. R.: 1975, ‘Untersuchungen über die Hauptbindungsarten und die Mobilisierbarkeit von Schwermetallen in fluviatilen Sedimenten’, Diss. Univ. Heidelberg, pp. 136.

  • Pescod, M. B.: 1973, ‘Photosynthetic Oxygen Production in a Polluted Tropical Estuary’, J. Wat. Pollut. Control Fed. 41, 309–321.

    Google Scholar 

  • Polprasert, C.: 1982, ‘Heavy Metal Pollution in the Chao Phraya River Estuary, Thailand’, Water Research 16, 775–784.

    Google Scholar 

  • Popova, T. P.: 1961, ‘Coprecipitation of some Microconstituents from Natural Waters with Calcium Carbonate’, Geochemistry 12, 1256–1261.

    Google Scholar 

  • Prater, B. E.: 1975, ‘The Metal Content and Dispersion Characteristics of Steel Works' Effluents Discharging to the Tees Estuary’, Water Pollut. Control 74, 63–78.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rankama, K. and Sahama, T. G.: 1960, Geochemistry, 591 pp., Interscience, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Salomons, W. and Mook, W. G.: 1978, ‘Processes Affecting Trace Metals in Lake IJssel’, Abstr. 10th Int. Congr. on Sedimentology, Jerusalam, pp. 569–570.

  • Swanson, V. E., Frist, L., Rader, R. F. Jr., and Huffman, C. Jr.: 1966, ‘Metal Sorption by Northwest Florida Humate’, U.S. Geol. Surv. Prof. Pap., 550-C, pp. 174–177.

  • Stumm, W. and Lee, G. F.: 1960, ‘The Chemistry of Aqueous Iron’, Schweiz. Z. Hydrol. 21, 295–319.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stumm, W. and Morgan, J. J.: 1970, Aquatic Chemistry, New York, Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Turekian, K. K.: 1969, ‘The Oceans, Streams, and Atmosphere’, in Handbook of Geochemistry, Vol. I, Wedepohl, K. H. (ed.), Berlin, Heidelberg, New York, Springer, pp. 297–323.

    Google Scholar 

  • Turekian, K. K. and Scott, M.: 1967, ‘Concentrations of Cr, Ag, Mo, Ni, Co, and Mn in Suspended Material in Streams’, Environ. Sci. Technol. 1, 940–942.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zirino, A. and Yamamoto, S.: 1972, ‘A pH-dependent Model for the Chemical Speciation of Copper, Zinc, Cadmium, and Lead in Sea Water’, Limnol. Oceanogr. 17, 661–671.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Ajmal, M., Khan, M.A. & Nomani, A.A. Distribution of heavy metals in water and sediments of selected sites of Yamuna river (India). Environ Monit Assess 5, 205–214 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00395849

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00395849

Keywords

  • Calcium
  • India
  • Potassium
  • Heavy Metal
  • Organic Matter