Metal pollution and its impact on algae in flowing waters in India

Abstract

Metal pollution in the river Godavari in India, due to discharges of liquid wastes from a paper mill, has been studied for a period of two years. At the discharge point and 1 km from the point of discharge, iron, manganese, and zinc were recorded in high concentrations, whereas cadmium and chromium were observed in low concentrations. No metal was in detectable concentration in water before the river receives the effluents. A considerable drop in pH values and an appreciable increase in organic matter, hardness, and calcium levels were noticed after entry of wastes. Diatoms were more diversified in fresh water, whereas cyanobacteria were more prevalent both qualitatively and quantitatively at the polluted stations. Mathematical equations involving heavy metals and physicochemical factors were drawn for better understanding of the distribution of algae.

Effects of Solid Waste and Industrial Effluents on Water Quality of Turag River at Konabari Industrial Area, Gazipur, Bangladesh

“…The Cd concentrations were ranged from 0.00-0.007 ppm, where the points U 1 , U 2 and M showed no Cd in the water; and the point D 1 was rich in Cd (Table 2). Sudhakar et al (1991) conducted an experiment on metal pollution in the river Godavari in India showed that heavy metals in high concentrations at the discharged point and 1 km from the point of discharge and no metal was found in detectable concentration in water before the river receives the effluents. The average Cd content was 0.007 ppm which was higher than the standard value of fish culture.…”

Use of periphyton assemblage data as an index of biotic integrity

“…Relative taxa richness.-Diatom species richness usually decreases as a result of stream contamination by organic enrichment (Amblard et al 1990, Whitton et al 1991, metals (Pratt et al 1987, Crossey and La Point 1988, Scanferlato and Cairns 1990, Sudhakar et al 1991, Whitton et al 1991, and pesticides (Kosinski 1984), although some researchers have reported increases in richness under moderate stress (Archibald 1972, Patrick 1973, van Dam 1982, Stevenson 1984. We expected taxa richness in Mid-Appalachian streams to be inversely related to environmental stressors.…”

“…Species better adapted to unfavorable conditions (e.g., nutrient enrichment or toxic stress) will have an advantage resulting in an uneven distribution of individuals among taxa (Archibald 1972, Patrick 1973, Weber and McFarland 1981, Sudhakar et al 1991, McCormick and Cairns 1997. We expected the % dominance by a single taxon to increase with increasing environmental stress.…”

Characterization of native microalgal strains for their chromium bioaccumulation potential: Phytoplankton response in polluted habitats

“…and Phormedium sp. [45]. The percent seasonal distribution of phytoplankton community in different seasons and sites is presented in Fig.…”