Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT OF HEAVY METAL CONTENTS IN THE POND WATER AND SEDIMENTS AT VARANASI

Anil Kumar Gupta and Priti Pandey

Abstract

Monitoring of heavy metals in the ponds ofVaranasi has been done to assess the presence of trace elements in the water as well as in the sediments of the ponds. Lead, Zinc, Copper, Cobalt and Chromium were estimated in both water and the sediments.The concentration of these metals both in water as well as in sediments was found to be maximum in rainy season, followed by winter and summer seasons respectively.The concentration of these metals in water and sediments showed the following order Zn > Cr > Cu > Co > Pb and Cu >Zn > Cr > Pb > Co respectively. The amount of heavy metals in water and sediments of different ponds showed the following order P5>P4>P3>P2'131 because of pollution load due to biotic activities.The concentration of lead was found to be minimum as 0.006 mg/1 and maximum was Zinc as 0.118 mg/1 in the water of the ponds.The amount of cobalt was minimum as 0.467 mg/ kg and copper was maximum as 1325.24 mg/kg in the sediments of the ponds studied.