Report on Heavy Metal Concentration

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Context

According to a new study by Central Water Commission (CWC) two or more metals have been detected in water samples from 22 Indian rivers.

The study

328 river monitoring stations were observed during January-December 2022 in India.

Findings of the Report

• Overall state of rivers in India: 141 (43%) of the 328 river stations monitored had alarming levels of one or more toxic heavy metals. 81 rivers and tributaries in 13 states revealed the presence of extremely high concentrations of one or more toxic heavy metals, including arsenic, cadmium, copper, iron, lead, lead, mercury and nickel.
• State of Ganga: The report revealed the poor state of Ganga basin. Ganga, the national river, was found to be polluted with four heavy metals — arsenic, lead, iron and copper.

Number of stations, rivers & tributaries with unacceptable levels of toxic heavy metals

Contaminant	Permissible limit	Water quality monitoring station (WQMS) where maximum concentration was observed
Arsenic	10 µg / L	Arsenic level in River Rind at Kora WQMS was 19.47 µg / L, or twice the permissible limit.
Cadmium	3 µg / L	Cadmium level at Lucknow WQMS on River Gomti was 5.542 µg / L, or twice the permissible limit.
Chromium	50 µg / L	Udaipur WQMS on River Brahmaputra River recorded 87.575 µg / L of chromium, which was twice times the permissible limit.
Copper	50 µg / L	Avarankuppam WQMS on River Palar had a copper concentration reading of 98.097 µg / L or twice the permissible limit.
Iron	1,000 µg / L	Kirtinagar D/S WQMS on Alakananda River recorded iron levels of 11.387 mg/L or 11 times the permissible limit.
Lead	10 µg / L	The lead concentration in Seetha River at Avershe WQMS was 63.483 µg / L or six times the permissible limit.
Mercury	1 µg / L	Palla U / S Delhi WQMS on the River Yamuna River indicated mercury levels of 8.903 µg / L or nine times the permissible limit.
Nickel	20 µg / L	Madamon WQMS on River Pamba showed a nickel concentration of 69.01 µg / L or thrice the permissible limit.

Source of Heavy Metals into rivers

River water is currently being reported as contaminated with trace and toxic metals, both due to human activity and natural resources.

Human Activity

The spread of heavy metal is mostly due to human activities such as metal mining, smelting, foundries and other metal-based industries.

Natural Resources

Heavy metals are introduced into the environment through agricultural practices, including leaching from sources like landfills, waste dumps, livestock and chicken manure, runoff from automobiles and roadwork.

Concerns associated with Pollution of Rivers with Heavy Metal

The World Health Organization has classified Heavys metals as being of significant public health concern.

Impact on Crops:

The presence of Heavy Metals above the limit in water will cause serious threats to flora and fauna because of their non-biodegradability. These have hazardous effects on crops, including grains and vegetables, cultivated in soil and water contaminated with these heavy metals.

Risks to Health and Environment:

• Heavy metals’ inherent toxicity, non-biodegradability and propensity for bioaccumulation make them a severe hazard to both human health and the environment. For example, consuming arsenic-contaminated water causes arsenical skin lesions, which are a late indication of arsenic toxicity. Arsenicosis is a chronic sickness caused by drinking water with high arsenic levels for an extended period of time.
• Recent research reveals that relatively little cadmium exposure might cause skeletal damage, including low bone mineral density (osteoporosis) and fractures.
• High levels of mercury can have negative consequences such as nerve, brain and kidney damage, lung discomfort, eye irritation, skin rashes, vomiting and diarrhoea.

Mitigating metal contamination

• There is a critical need for proactive actions to address metal contamination, water quality issues and implement efficient remediation methods.
• Prioritising water resource protection is vital for sustaining ecosystem health and protecting public health from the hazardous effects of heavy metal poisoning.
• Exploring new metal technologies for water treatment and incorporating innovative approaches to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of water treatment processes is necessary.

Central Water Commission (CWC) The Central Water Commission (CWC) is a premier technical organization in India for water resources, functioning under the Department of Water Resources, River Development, and Ganga Rejuvenation within the Ministry of Jal Shakti. It focuses on controlling, conserving, and utilizing water for flood control, irrigation, navigation, drinking water, and hydro power development. Led by a Chairman with the status of Ex-Officio Secretary to the Government of India, the CWC operates through three main wings: Designs and Research, River Management, and Water Planning and Projects. Each wing is managed by a Member with Ex-Officio Additional Secretary status. The CWC handles basin planning, project appraisal, hydrology, design and monitoring of water projects, dam safety, flood forecasting, river management, and resolving water disputes, while also monitoring river water quality.

PRACTICE QUESTION Q. Which of the following contaminants has a permissible limit of 3 µg/L in drinking water? A) Arsenic B) Cadmium C) Chromium D) Copper   Answer: B) Cadmium Explanation Contaminant with Permissible Limit in India Arsenic: 10 µg/L Cadmium: 3 µg/L Chromium: 50 µg/L Copper: 50 µg/L Iron: 1,000 µg/L Lead: 10 µg/L Mercury: 1 µg/L Nickel: 20 µg/L

SOURCE: DOWN TO EARTH