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Assessment of soil contamination in Patancheru industrial area, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India
B.Dasaram1*, M.Satyanarayanan1, V.Sudarshan2 and A. Keshav Krishna1
1National Geophysical Research Institute (Council of Scientific & Industrial Research)
Uppal Road, Hyderabad-500007
2Department of Applied Geochemistry, Osmania University, Hyderabad-500007
*E-mail: bdram11@yahoo.co.in
Abstract
Toxic trace metals concentrations in soil exert a decisive impact on soil quality and its use in food production particularly in an industrial area. An attempt is made here to study toxic metals such as Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn, including Ba, Co and V in representative soil samples from Patancheru industrial area near Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh. It is a known polluted area and is one of the most contaminated regions where about 260 small and large-scale manufacturers of pharmaceuticals, paints, pesticides, chemicals, steel and metallic products have been functioning for over several decades. Toxic trace metal geochemical studies were carried out in fifteen representative soil samples collected from residential and agricultural area, to understand the spatial distribution and to assess the level of contamination on the basis of index of geoaccummulation, enrichment factor, contamination factor and degree of contamination. The various indices show that residential soils are contaminated with Cr, Ni and Pb (Cu to some extent). The agricultural area, although were invariably enriched in these toxic metals, showed comparatively less contamination possibly due to uptake by plants.
Key words Toxic trace metal, contamination, Patancheru, Industrial area
1. Introduction
The unchecked industrial and human activities have contributed toxic trace metals from anthropogenic sources into surface and subsurface soils when compared to those contributed from geogenic processes [1]. Higher economic growth, rapid industrialization and indiscriminate disposal of waste materials
B.Dasaram1*, M.Satyanarayanan1, V.Sudarshan2 and A. Keshav Krishna1
1National Geophysical Research Institute (Council of Scientific & Industrial Research)
Uppal Road, Hyderabad-500007
2Department of Applied Geochemistry, Osmania University, Hyderabad-500007
*E-mail: bdram11@yahoo.co.in
Abstract
Toxic trace metals concentrations in soil exert a decisive impact on soil quality and its use in food production particularly in an industrial area. An attempt is made here to study toxic metals such as Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn, including Ba, Co and V in representative soil samples from Patancheru industrial area near Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh. It is a known polluted area and is one of the most contaminated regions where about 260 small and large-scale manufacturers of pharmaceuticals, paints, pesticides, chemicals, steel and metallic products have been functioning for over several decades. Toxic trace metal geochemical studies were carried out in fifteen representative soil samples collected from residential and agricultural area, to understand the spatial distribution and to assess the level of contamination on the basis of index of geoaccummulation, enrichment factor, contamination factor and degree of contamination. The various indices show that residential soils are contaminated with Cr, Ni and Pb (Cu to some extent). The agricultural area, although were invariably enriched in these toxic metals, showed comparatively less contamination possibly due to uptake by plants.
Key words Toxic trace metal, contamination, Patancheru, Industrial area
1. Introduction
The unchecked industrial and human activities have contributed toxic trace metals from anthropogenic sources into surface and subsurface soils when compared to those contributed from geogenic processes [1]. Higher economic growth, rapid industrialization and indiscriminate disposal of waste materials