Abstract
The concentration of heavy metals such as Ba, Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Rb, Sr, V, Y, Zn, Zr were studied in soils of Balanagar industrial area, Hyderabad to understand heavy metal contamination due to industrialization and urbanization. This area is affected by the industrial activities like steel, petrochemicals, automobiles, refineries, and battery manufacturing generating hazardous wastes. The assessment of the contamination of the soils was based on the geoaccumulation index, enrichment factor (EF), contamination factor, and degree of contamination. Soil samples were collected from Balanagar industrial area from top 10–50 cm layer of soil. The samples were analyzed using X-ray fluorescence spectrometer for heavy metals. The data revealed that the soils in the study area are significantly contaminated, showing high level of toxic elements than normal distribution. The ranges of concentration of Cr (82.2–2,264 mg/kg), Cu (31.3–1,040 mg/kg), Ni (34.3–289.4 mg/kg), Pb (57.5–1,274 mg/kg), Zn (67.5–5819.5 mg/kg), Co (8.6–54.8 mg/kg), and V (66.6–297 mg/kg). The concentration of above-mentioned other elements was similar to the levels in the earth’s crust pointed to metal depletion in the soil as the EF was <1. Some heavy metals showed high EF in the soil samples indicating that there is a considerable heavy metal pollution, which could be correlated with the industries in the area. A contamination site poses significant environmental hazards for terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. They are important sources of pollution and may results in ecotoxicological effects on terrestrial, groundwater and aquatic ecosystems.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Adriano DC (2001) Trace elements in terrestrial environments. Biogeochemistry, bioavailability and risks of metals. Springer-Verleg, New York, p 879
Alloway BJ, Ayres DC (1997) Chemical principles of environmental pollution, 2nd edn. Blackie Academic and Professional, Chapman and Hall, London, pp 208–211
Buat-Menard P, Cherselet R (1979) Variable influence of the atmospheric flux on the trace metal chemistry of oceanic suspended matter. Earth Planet Sci Lett 42:398–411
Chlopecka A, Bacon JR, Wilson HJ, Kay J (1996) Forms of cadmium, lead and zinc in contaminated soils from southwest Poland. J Environ Qual 25:69–79
Cobela-Garcia A, Prego R (2003) Heavy metal sedimentary record in a Glacian Ria (NW Spain): background values and recent contamination. Mar Pollut Bull 46:1253–1262
Dang Z, Liu C, Haigh MJ (2002) Mobility of heavy metals associated with the natural weathering of coal mine spoils. Environ Pollut 118:419–426
Fent K (2004) Ecotoxicological effects at contaminated sites. Toxicology 205:223–240
Govil PK (1985) X-ray fluorescence analysis of major, minor and selected trace elements in new IWG reference rock sample. J Geol Soc India 26:38–42
Gowd SS, Reddy RM, Govil PK (2010) Assessment of heavily metal contamination in soils at Jajmau (Kanpur) and Unnao industrial areas of the Ganga Plain, Uttar Pradesh, India. J Hazard Mater 174:113–121
Hakanson L (1980) An ecological risk index for aquatic pollution control. A sedimentological approach. Water Res 14:975–1001
Kabata-Pendias A (2004) Soil–plant transfer of heavy metals—an environmental issue. Geoderma 122:143–149
Kabata-Pendias A, Pendias H (1999). Biogeochemistry of trace elements, 2nd edn. PWN, Warsaw (In Polish)
Krzysztof L, Wiechula D, Korns I (2003) Metal contamination of farming soils affected by industry. Environ Int 30:159–165
Loska K, Wiechula D, Korus I (2004) Metal contamination of farming soils affected by industry. Environ Int 30:159–165
Mapanda F, Mangwayana EN, Nyamangara J, Giller KE (2005) The effect of long-term irrigation using wastewater on heavy metal contents of soils under vegetables in Harare, Zimbabwe Agric. Ecosyst Environ 107:151–165
Moon JW, Moon HS, Woon NC, Hahn JS, Won JS, Song Y, Lin X, Zhao Y (2000) Evaluation of heavy metal contamination and implication of multiple sources from Hunchun basin, Northeastern China. Environ Geol 39:1039–1052
Muller G (1969) Index of geoaccumulation in sediments of the Rhine River. Geo J 2:108–118
Nriagu JO (1988) Production and uses of chromium. In: Nriagu JO, Niebner E (eds) Chromium in the natural and human environments. Wiley, New York, pp 81–104
Obiajunwa EI, Pelemo DA, Owalabi SA, Fasai MK, Johnson-Fatokun FO (2002) Characterisation of heavy metal pollutants of soils and sediments around a crude oil production terminal using EDXRF. Nucl Instrum Methods Phys Bull 194:61–64
Reimann C, De Caritat P (2000) Intrinsic flaws of element enrichment factors (EF’s) in environmental geochemistry. Environ Sci Technol 34:5084–5091
Rubio B, Nombela MA, Vilas F (2000) Geochemistry of major and trace elements in sediments of the Ria de Vigo (VW Spain): an assessment of metal pollution, Mar. Pollut Bull 40:968–980
Saur E, Juste C (1994) Enrichment of trace elements from long-range aerosol transport in sandy podozolic soils of southwest France. Water Air Soil Pollut 73:235–246
Skordas K, Kelepertsis A (2005) Soil contamination by toxic metals in the cultivated region of Agia, Thessaly, Greece. Identification of sources of contamination. Environ Geol 48:615–624
Sutherland RA (2000) Bed sediment associated trace metals in an urban stream, Oahu, Hawaii. Environ Geol 39:611–627
Taylor SR, Mclennan SM (1995) The geochemical evolution of the continental crust. Rev Geophys 33:241–265
USEPA (2003) Drinking water contaminants, National primary drinking water regulations, EPA 816-F-03-016
Van Straalen NM (2002) Assessment of soil contamination-a functional perspective. Biodegration 13:41–52
Wang S, Zhimin C, Dongzhao L, Zhichang Z, Li Guihai (2008) Concentration distribution and assessment of several heavy metals in sediments of west-four Pearl River Estuary. Environ Geol 55(1):963–975
WHO (2004). Guidelines for drinking water quality, 3rd edn. ISBN 9241546387. Retrieved from http://www.who.int/watersanitationhealth/dwq/guidelines/en
Zhang X, Bao ZY, Tang JH (2006) Application of the enrichment factor in evaluation of heavy metal contamination in the environmental geochemistry. Geol Sci Technol Infrom 25(1):65–72
Acknowledgments
The authors are thankful to Director, National Geophysical Research Institute, Hyderabad, for his continuous support and kind permission to publish this paper. The authors are thankful to honorable reviewer for his valuable comments and suggestion given for improvement of the manuscript. Thanks are also due to Shri. A.K. Krishna, Scientist, NGRI, Hyderabad for XRF Laboratory for helping in XRF analysis of soil samples.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Machender, G., Dhakate, R., Prasanna, L. et al. Assessment of heavy metal contamination in soils around Balanagar industrial area, Hyderabad, India. Environ Earth Sci 63, 945–953 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-010-0763-4
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-010-0763-4