Study of pollution of the river ganga in the Mirzapur Region (India) and its impact on sediments

Abstract

The paper presents the various sources of pollution in the Mirzapur region, an industralized town in eastern Uttar Pradesh, which lies on the right bank of the river Ganga (Ganges). Municipal and industrial effluents affect the sediment and water of the river. An analysis of the bank sediments revealed the presence of toxic metals, some of them present in greater concentration than those recorded in average shale. The maximum concentrations of Cu, Pb, Ni and Zn in the region, 931, 226, 24 and 717 ppm, respectively, were recorded near the Oliar ghat (landing steps), whereas 138 ppm of Cr was found at the same ghat. Likewise, the maximum value of Co (20 ppm) occurs opposite to the Fathua ghat. These metals present no direct danger to the ecosystem as long as they are tightly bound to the sediments. However, due to a change in the physico-chemical conditions, viz. pH, salinity, redox condition, etc., of the aquatic milieu, these metals from the sediments may pass into the water phase and thus may cause a health hazard. © 1993, Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. All rights reserved.