Environmental quantification of heavy metals in the sediments of the Brahmani and Nandira rivers, Orissa

Abstract

The degree of contamination of the sediments from Brahmani and Nandira rivers, Angul-Talcher industrial belt, Orissa is evaluated using Enrichment ratio (ER), Pollution load index (PLI) and Geo-accumulation index (Igeo) for the metals like Al, Fe, Ti, Mn, Cu, Ni, Co, Ph, Zn, Cr, Cd and Hg. The metal values of the study area are also compared with other major river systems of India. The results of ER, PLI and Igeo for the Brahmani and Nandira river sediments indicate the role of anthropogenic activities (dumping of industrial/chemical wastes) in the study area. The down stream stations of Nandira and Brahmani-Nandira confluence station are contaminated with some metals, especially Hg, and Cd from the unburnt coal particles as well as fly ash from thermal plants and Cr from the solid wastes of chemical plant.