ECOLOGICAL RISK ASSESSMENT THROUGH METAL MOBILITY IN DAMSAL NALA, SUKINDA CHROMITE VALLEY OF INDIANILADRI SEKHAR MONDAL, ANINDITA CHAKRABORTY, MATHUMMAL SUDARSHAN AND APURBA RATAN GHOSHAbstract Damsal Nala, passing through the Sukinda chromite valley, Jajpur of Odisha is carrying the drainage from adjacent mines. Present work estimated the concentration of As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, and Pb, by EDXRF and FAAS from bottom sediments and water samples of different zones of the Damsal Nala. The concentrations of Cd, Cr, Fe, and Pb in UDZ sediments were about 13, 522, 6, and 2 times higher, respectively, than the Indian average values and the concentration were to the tune of Fe>Cr>Cu>Pb>As>Cd. The potential ecological risk assessment (Ei r and Rl) of sediments of UDZ and downstream zone (DZ) showed a severe risk of Cd and Cr, compared to other sites, which may finally lead to severe risk assessment to human health. These lesions indicated that the mining effluents and leachates not only affect the ecological balance but may also pose health hazards to the local human population. |