Study on heavy metal concentration in two fresh water lakes of Kumaun region of Uttarakhand
Loading...
Date
2016-08
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar - 263145 (Uttarakhand)
Abstract
Bhimtal lake is a shoe shaped lake with an altitude of about 1370m above sea level. It is one of the famous tourist places of Central Himalaya. Lake has an island near the centre which has been converted into beautiful aquarium by lake authorities. Lake Sattal is an interconnected group of seven fresh water lakes situated at Lower Himalaya near Bhimtal, a town of the Nainital district in Uttarakhand. Lake is located at an elevation of 4000 feet approximately situated in Nainital district. Physico-chemical parameters and heavy metal concentration of Lake Bhimtal and Sattal was studied for a period of five months i.e. January 2016 to May 2016 to assess the water quality and level of heavy metal pollution in the water. Two sites from each lake were selected for sampling. The two sampling sites at Lake Sattal were S1 and S2 and from Bhimtal B1 and B2 were considered as sampling site. Site S2 is 150 meters horizontally far from site S1 and in Bhimtal site B1 is near the boat area and site B2 is also 150 meters away from site B1. Average values of physical parameters like Temperature, Electrical Conductivity and Total Dissolved Solids were 15.7˚C, 239.3 µS/cm and 87.7 mg/L, respectively in Lake Bhimtal whereas 15.6˚C, 204.9 µs/cm and 122.6 mg/L, respectively was found in Lake Sattal during study period. Average value of chemical parameters, pH, Dissolved Oxygen, Free CO2 and Alkalinity, was 7.7, 7.9 mg/L, 0.2 mg/L and 90.2mg/L, respectively in Lake Bhimtal and 7.8, 7 mg/L, 0.3 mg/L and 92.8 mg/L, respectively in Lake Sattal during study period. Average concentration of Lead (Pb), Copper (Cu), Zinc (Zn), Cadmium (Cd) and Iron (Fe) was 0.19 mg/L, 0.0078 mg/L, 0.05 mg/L, 0.0044 mg/L and 1.20 mg/L, respectively in lake Bhimtal whereas 0.01 mg/L, 0.0127 mg/L, 0.049 mg/L, 0.0035 mg/L and 0.065 mg/L ,respectively in lake Sattal. Highest average concentration of Lead, Zinc, Cadmium and Iron was always found in site B2 and Copper in site B1 in Lake Bhimtal whereas in lake Sattal highest value of Copper, Zinc and Cadmium were found in site S1 and Iron and Lead in site S2. Variation in concentration of heavy metals like Lead, Copper, Zinc and Cadmium was not in wide range but the average value of Iron in Lake Bhimtal was 1.2 mg/L and in Sattal was 0.065 mg/L. By the investigation it is concluded that Heavy metal contamination in lake Bhimtal is more than in lake Sattal. Presenlty, lake water is not lethal for aquatic organisms but if the concentration of heavy metals goes beyond the range of permissible limit then it can become harmful for both aquatic organisms and human beings.
Description
Keywords
null