Pollution Research Paper

Vol 39, Issue 3, 2020; Page No.(677-684 )

SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION OF HEAVY METALS IN WATERS OF THE MAHANADI ESTUARY, PARADEEP, ODISHA

S.S. KALIKINKAR MAHANTA AND MALAYA RANJAN MAHANANDA

Abstract

As World’s richest biodiversity are present in the regions of estuaries. But due to increasing industries near rivers various pollutants like heavy metals are increasing in the water body and reaching to the estuary region and cause impact on biodiversity. Mahanadi estuary is receiving water from large catchment where a large number of industries, mining sites and municipal wastes, which is present at the east-coast region of Odisha. The concentration of heavy metals found in Mahanadi estuary like (Hg, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Pb, Mo, and Cd) with concentration 0.13±0.025 to 0.76±0.025µg/L, 0.17±0.025 to 0.52± 0.015µg/L, 2.24±0.03 to 3.91±0.02 µg/L, 0.21±0.02 to 0.51±0.02µg/L, 0.71±0.02 to 18.25±0.02µg/L, 0.01±0.01 to 1.08±0.015µg/L, 0.42±0.03 to 0.84±0.03µg/L, 1.82±0.03 to 18.82±0.02µg/L, 4.47±0.02 to 32.07±0.02µg/L, 0.16±0.02 to 0.66±0.03µg/L, 0.07±0.02 to 0.29±0.02µg/L, 0.09±0.02 to 2.90±0.025µg/L and 0.07±0.02 to 0.26±0.02µg/L. As the distributional phenomenon of heavy metal is concerned, it might be due to the industrial discharge and port activity in the coast and riverine system, coupled with the varied dynamics of sea. Mercury, vanadium, Cobalt and Molybdenum concentration are more at point ‘A’ as it is situated up stream and may be due to river influx. Chromium, Iron, copper and Arsenic concentration are more at point ‘F’ which is near to Paradeep port and may be due to the port activity. But all the three toxic metal i.e. mercury, lead and cadmium concentration are well within the limit as compared to the “Designated Best Uses Standard” for sea water (MOEF: SW-I to SW-V).