Assessment of heavy metal contamination in soils around Balanagar industrial area, Hyderabad, India

Abstract

The concentration of heavy metals such as Ba, Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Rb, Sr, V, Y, Zn, Zr were studied in soils of Balanagar industrial area, Hyderabad to understand heavy metal contamination due to industrialization and urbanization. This area is affected by the industrial activities like steel, petrochemicals, automobiles, refineries, and battery manufacturing generating hazardous wastes. The assessment of the contamination of the soils was based on the geoaccumulation index, enrichment factor (EF), contamination factor, and degree of contamination. Soil samples were collected from Balanagar industrial area from top 10-50 cm layer of soil. The samples were analyzed using X-ray fluorescence spectrometer for heavy metals. The data revealed that the soils in the study area are significantly contaminated, showing high level of toxic elements than normal distribution. The ranges of concentration of Cr (82.2-2,264 mg/kg), Cu (31.3-1,040 mg/kg), Ni (34.3-289.4 mg/kg), Pb (57.5-1,274 mg/kg), Zn (67.5-5819.5 mg/kg), Co (8.6-54.8 mg/kg), and V (66.6-297 mg/kg). The concentration of abovementioned other elements was similar to the levels in the earth's crust pointed to metal depletion in the soil as the EF was \1. Some heavy metals showed high EF in the soil samples indicating that there is a considerable heavy metal pollution, which could be correlated with the industries in the area. A contamination site poses significant environmental hazards for terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. They are important sources of pollution and may results in ecotoxicological effects on terrestrial, groundwater and aquatic ecosystems.

Trace Elements in Soils around Coal Mines: Current Scenario, Impact and Available Techniques for Management

“…2 Coal production (Mt) in the year 2011 worldwide; the percentage at the top of each bar represents the individual contribution relative to total production [3] where C metal is the concentration of the metal in the studied sample and C metal(control) is the geochemical background value (world background soil). The factor 1.5 is the correction factor used to minimize the effect of possible variations in the background or control values which may be attributed to terrigenous effects [22]. The six classes of I geo index values are given in Table 2 [20].…”

Analysis of heavy metals’ contamination in soils and water at automobile junk markets in Obosi and Nnewi, Anambra State, Southeastern Nigeria

“…The bioavailability of metal ion in soils is influenced by the PH, temperature, cation exchange capacity, organic matter, competition with other metal ions, and composition and quality of soil (Moon et al 2000;Mapanda et al 2005;Machender et al 2010).…”

Health Risk Assessment of Heavy Metal Contaminated Sites in India

“…Concentrations of heavy metals presented by various researchers were used for the study. Site 1 is Balanagar industrial area situated in the northwestern part of Hyderabad City, India [12]. Main industries causing the contamination in this site are: steel, chemical, automobiles, refineries and battery manufacturing.…”

“…In this study, three sites were selected out of pre-identified 557 contaminated sites, each from Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan and Gujarat. Work has been already done at Balanagar Industrial Area, Hyderabad [12]; Pali Industrial Area, Rajasthan [23] and Surat Industrial Area, Gujarat [25] to determine the extent and concentration of heavy metals. Results presented by these authors were used in this study for the assessment of carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic health risks to human.…”