Studies on the distribution of heavy metal concentrations in River Adyar , Chennai , Tamil Nadu

To assess the levels of heavy metals and the extent of pollution in the surface water and sediments from the River Adyar, Chennai, the present study has been undertaken. Water and sediment samples were collected from four different stations along the course of the river in Chennai. The concentrations of heavy metals such as Zinc (Zn), Cadmium (Cd), Copper (Cu), Iron (Fe) and Lead (Pb), were determined using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. The ranges of heavy metals in water (μg L) and sediment (μg g) Zn, Cd, Cu, Fe and Pb were: 0.24-0.40; 0.23-0.36; 0.61-0.83; 4.83-5.00; 0.02-0.05; and 0.79-0.83; 0.72-0.73; 0.64-1.24; 11.91-12.8; and 0.300.42, in Ekatuthangal (Station-I), Guindy (Station-II), Saidapet (Station-III) and Kotturpuram (Station-IV) respectively. The heavy metal concentrations in the downstream indicated an increase in the pollution load due to movement of suspended and dissolved industrial effluents and anthropogenic wastes. Except Cadmium and Iron all the heavy metals studied were under permissible limits.