Present Status of Heavy Metals in Lake Nainital, India
Present Status of Heavy Metals in Lake Nainital, India
Date
2020
Authors
Joshi, Pawan Kumar
Mishra, Ashutosh
Trakroo, M. Das
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Society of Fisheries Technologists (India)
Abstract
To evaluate heavy metal pollution status of the Lake
Nainital, an eutrophic lake, situated in the Central
West Himalayan region at 29°24’ N latitude, 79°28’
E longitude and an altitude of 1935 m above mean
sea level, the assessment of heavy metals in the lake
water was made from September 2016 to February
2017 using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer
(AAS). Three sites viz., S1 (Aeration centre at thandi
sadak), S2 (Platform near the Naina Devi Temple)
and S3 (Boat stand near bus stand) were selected
and fortnightly sampling for assessing the concentration
of six selected heavy metals (Lead, Cadmium,
Arsenic, Zinc, Copper and Manganese) was
made. The range and average concentration of
heavy metals in water of Lake Nainital was
observed as Zn: 0.013- 0.051 (0.029 mg L-1), Pb:
0.137- 0.629 (0.346 mg L-1), Cu: 0.0- 0.263(0.113 mg
L-1), Mn: 0.0- 1.314 (0.361 mg L-1), Cd: 0.0- 0.012
(0.007 mg L-1) and As: 0.0- 0.004 (0.001 mg L-1).
Three water quality pollution indices namely Heavy
metal Pollution Index (HPI), Heavy metal Evaluation
Index (HEI) and Degree of Contamination (Cd)
were used to evaluate the present status of selected
heavy metals. The average value of heavy metal
pollution index of different metals (Zn: 0.005, Pb:
6.438, Cu: 0.066, Mn: 1.642, Cd: 0.610 and As: 0.205)
show that the water of Lake Nainital is slightly
affected with Mn and seriously affected with Pb
pollution. Though the average value of HEI (1.448)
and Cd (0.447) suggests low heavy metal pollution
in the Lake Nainital, higher lead pollution is case
of concern.
Description
Keywords
Risk assessment, Lead, Cadmium, Pollution status