An Asian Journal of Soil Science

D. Sarala Thambavani ¹, V. Prathipa ²

Affiliations
1 Department of Chemistry, Sri Meenakshi Government Arts College for Women (Autonomous), Madurai (T.N.), IN
2 Department of Chemistry, P.S.N.A. College of Engineering and Technology, Dindigul (T.N.), IN

Abstract

Levels of iron, manganese, zinc, copper, lead, cadmium and chromium were determined by Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy to assess the heavy metal contamination of urban soil of Dindigul town. Soil samples were collected from the residential site, traffic site and industrial site at the depth of 0-20 cm, 20-40 cm and 40-60 cm, respectively. A comparison of heavy metal concentrations between polluted and control site exhibited significantly higher concentration at the polluted sites. The mean concentration of Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, Pb, Cd and Cr at the industrial site were 9.087 mg/kg, 10.443 mg/kg, 2.49 mg/kg, 8.657 mg/kg, 0.072 mg/kg, 2.85 mg/kg, respectively. Soil profile samples showed that Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, Pb, Cd and Cr concentration were higher in the top soil of (0-20 cm), but decreased with increase in depth. Correlation co-efficient of all the heavy metals showed significant correlation except Mn. Heavy Metal Index (HMI) for the control, traffic and industrial sites were 14.27, 21.13 and 24.39, respectively. Traffic and industrial sites were found to be highly polluted. Comparing heavy metal concentration in soils of different sampling sites show that urban soil was affected by the human impact. However, the heavy metal content in the soil compared with international standards do not give cause for the concern but continued urbanization and industrialization will ultimately place human health and environmental targets at risk.

Keywords

Heavy Metal Index (HMI), Load Representative Supply (LRS), Heavy Metals, Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS), Contaminated, Highly Polluted, Industrialization, Urbanization, Human Impact.

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D. Sarala Thambavani ¹, V. Prathipa ²

Affiliations
1 Department of Chemistry, Sri Meenakshi Government Arts College for Women (Autonomous), Madurai (T.N.), IN
2 Department of Chemistry, P.S.N.A. College of Engineering and Technology, Dindigul (T.N.), IN

Abstract

Total concentration of iron, manganese, zinc, lead, copper, cadmium and chromium have been estimated in soil of residential, traffic and tannery sites at two depths (0-20 cm and 20-40 cm) and in leaves of plant species Azadirachta indica, Pongamia glabra and Delonix regia growing at traffic and industrial site in urban town of Dindigul. The metal concentrations were found to be higher at traffic and tannery sites compared to residential area. The heavy metal concentrations were found to be higher at 0-20 cm depth compared to (20-40 cm) depth. Delonix regia had higher concentration of Fe, Mn, Cu and Cr at traffic and tannery sites (318.4 mg/kg, 375.2 mg/kg, 71.6 mg/kg, 85.3 mg/kg and 290.2 mg/kg, 41.0 mg/kg and 1.25 mg/kg, 1.93 mg/ kg, respectively). Pongamia glabra showed the higher concentration of Zn and Cd at traffic and tannery site (75.8 mg/kg, 40.2 mg/kg and 2.28 mg/kg and 4.60 mg/kg, respectively). The concentration of Pb was higher for Azadirachta indica at traffic and Pongamia glabra at tannery site. The enrichment data indicated Cd was enriched in the soil compared to other elements. Cr was enriched more in the tannery site.The Enrichment factor of plants for heavy metals such as Mn, Zn, Cu, Pb and Cd has the EF value greater than 2 except for Fe and Cr. Mobility ratio for heavy metals was found to be greater than 2 except for chromium. Soil plant transfer data indicated that plant was enhanced with anthropogenic activities. Therefore, Azadirachta indica, Pongamia glabra and Delonix regia could be considered a more suitable to biomonitor the environmental pollution in the examined area. These plant species had potential use as a low cost tool in ecological restoration. Since they are tolerant to most of the pollutant in the area studied.

Keywords

Anthropogenic, Enrichment Factor, Mobility Ratio, Heavy Metal, Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy, Industrial, Traffic, Tannery, Accumulator, Bioaccumulation.

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D. Sarala Thambavani ¹, V. Prathipa ²

Affiliations
1 Department of Chemistry, Sri Meenakshi Government Arts College for Women (Autonomous), Madurai (T.N.), IN
2 Department of Chemistry, P.S.N.A. College of Engineering and Technology, Dindigul (T.N.), IN

Abstract

Heavy metal enrichment and contamination of the soil has attracted a great deal of attention world wide due to their non-biodegradable nature. This study was conducted to investigate the concentration of heavy metals such as Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, Pb, Cd and Cr in soil which have been contaminated by industrial activity. In view of this, influence of an industrial environment on the accumulation of heavy metals in the surface soils of the Dindigul which is Industrial Town, Tamil Nadu has been investigated. The total 18 top soil samples enrichment (0-20cm) were collected for a period between October 2011 to February 2012 and the heavy metal contents were analyzed by atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS). The mean concentration of Mn (13.16 mg/kg) was found to higher followed by Fe (9.13 mg/kg), Cu (6.73 mg/kg), Zn (2.13 mg/kg), Cr (1.98 mg/kg), Pb (0.82 mg/kg) and Cd (0.079 mg/kg). The average enrichment factor for Cr (4.58) was found to be higher followed by Cd (3.06), Zn (1.93), Pb (1.78), Mn (1.49), Fe (1.41) and Cu (1.17). Cr and Cd have the more enrichment factor and normalized scatter coefficient compared to other heavy metals. It is inferred that Cr and Cd are accumulated to the greater extent in the industrial soil of Dindigul Town.

Keywords

Enrichment Factor, Normalized Scatter Coefficient, Heavy Metals, Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer, Contamination, Industrial Soil, Non-Biodegradable.

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