Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Trace metals in a tropical river environment-distribution

  • Published:
Water, Air, and Soil Pollution Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Distribution of trace metals in the Periyar river has been investigated in detail. The fluvial concentrations of trace metals increase in river water and decrease in sediments during the summer months due to solubilization and concentration by evaporation. The levels, especially of Zn and Cd which are industrial pollutants increase by a factor of 10 both in water and sediments at the industrial zone. The concentration of Cd in the river water approaches the WHO standards for safe limits in drinking water. Solubilization at the backwater zone under high salinity is identified as one of the major mechanisms of trace metal transport to the marine environment. River meandering is responsible for large scale deposition of suspended solids at the industrial zone during the monsoon period. The trace metals exhibit build-up in specific concentration in the suspended solids in proportion to their residence time.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Basco, J., Szalay, A., and Kiss, K.: 1978, Sci. of the Total Environm. 9, 271.

    Google Scholar 

  • Clearley, J. E.: 1974, Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, 11, 146.

    Google Scholar 

  • Clubb, R. W., Gaufin, A. R., and Lords, A. L.: 1975, Environm. Res., 9, 285.

    Google Scholar 

  • FAO: 1978, Water Research 12, 277.

    Google Scholar 

  • Foo-Chong Tsai, Buchanan Jr. E. B., and Lon Drake: 1978, Science of the Total Environment, 9, 277.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harvey, E. J. Sr. and Luther A. Knight, Jr.: 1978, Water, Air and Soil Pollut. 9, 255.

    Google Scholar 

  • Klasse, E., Rowe, R. W., and Massaro, E. J.: 1974, Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology 12, 442.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nehring, R. B. and Geottle Jr. J. P.: 1974, Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology 12.

  • Paul, A. C.: 1980, Ph. D. Thesis, University of Bombay.

  • Paul, A. C. and Pillai, K. C.: 1976, BARC, BARC/1-419.

  • Paul, A. C. and Pillai, K. C.: 1978, Water, Air and Soil Pollut. 10, 133.

    Google Scholar 

  • Paul, A. C. and Pillai, K. C.: 1981, Paper presented at the All India Seminar on Status of Environmental Studies in India, March 26–28, Trivandrum, Kerala, India.

  • Paul, A. C. Londhe, V. S., and Pillai, K. C.: 1980, Natural Radiation Environment III, Vol. 2. Proceedings of a symposium held at Houston, Texas, CONF-780422, 1633–1654.

  • Taylor, D.: 1976, Sci. of the Total Environm. 6, 259.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Health Physics Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, 400985, Bombay, India

    A. C. Paul & K. C. Pillai

Authors
  1. A. C. Paul
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. K. C. Pillai
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Paul, A.C., Pillai, K.C. Trace metals in a tropical river environment-distribution. Water Air Soil Pollut 19, 63–73 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00176796

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00176796

Keywords

Search

Navigation