Original Article

, Volume: 13( 1)

• View PDF
• Download PDF

A Study on Physico Chemical and Heavy Metals Characteristics of River Noyyal, Tamilnadu, India

*Correspondence:

Babunath R, P.G. Research Department of Zoology, Government Arts College (autonomous), karur-639005, Tamilnadu, India, Tel: +91-8870151908; E-mail: mvragav444@yahoo.com

Abstract

River Noyyal is major tributary of River Cauvery has been one of the most prominent and important river of Tamilnadu. Unfortunately, certain stretches of river Noyyal are much polluted in industrial and urban waste. The present study analyzed the pollution level of Noyyal River with a view to create a database on the zone-wise pollution level of the river. Samples were analyzed for a period of one year from July 2008 to June 2009 in five sampling points at Noyyal River. Totally, 23 physiochemical parameters were analyzed in five sampling locations of the river. Orathupalayam dam area recorded higher concentrations of pollutants than the permissible limits, and the lowest concentration was noted at Chadivayal. Totally six heavy metals Cr, Zn, Cd, Cu, Pb and Hg were observed in all the sampling points. Linear combinations of environmental factors, including heavy metals were subjected to Principal Component Analysis (PCA). All the physiochemical and heavy metals are observed in maximum to permissible limit. Results indicate that Noyyal river is moderately polluted under the study area.

Keywords

Noyyal river; Physiochemical parameters; Heavy metals; AAS, PCA

Introduction

The "Noyyal" is a sacred river in Tamil history. Its originates from the hills of Velliangiri, in Western Ghats of Tamilnadu. It flows through Coimbatore, Tirupur, Erode and Karur districts in Tamilnadu. It flows over a length of 180 km covering an area of 3,510 sq. km. The boundary of the river basin is between 10° 54 ' 00" to 11° 19' 03" N and 76° 39' 30" to 77° 05' 25" E. The river supplies water to several tanks located in and around Coimbatore and Tiruppur cities. In recent times, mismanagement of surrounding areas of water bodies has resulted into unprecedented nutrient enrichment of water bodies causing eutrophication, which is manifested by raised trophic status, increased rate of sedimentation, loss of water storage capacity, lowered retention period and deteriorated water quality. The physico-chemical characteristics of any aquatic ecosystem and the nature and distribution of its biota are directly related to and influenced by each other and controlled by a multiplicity of natural regulatory mechanisms. The discharge of effluents has caused severe pollution of both the surface and ground water in the region and has also contaminated agricultural land. The effluents of dyeing and bleaching industries of Tiruppur have strong colour, large amount of suspended solids, highly fluctuating pH, temperature, and high BOD and COD [1]. Heavy metals are yet another environmental components, which can produce toxic effects when they go beyond safe levels. Some of them, such as copper, nickel, chromium, and iron are essential in very low concentrations for the survival of all forms of life. There are about fifty heavy metals that are of special concern for their toxicological importance to human health and many of them, like Zn, Cu, Ni, and Mn are also essential trace elements for living organisms. However, if these metals get accumulated at high levels, or are ingested in greater amounts than the required concentration, then they can cause serious health problems [2]. Anthropogenic activities like mining, ultimate disposal of treated and untreated waste effluents containing toxic metals as well as metal chelates from different industries [3]. Water bodies are considered the cheapest and convenient refuse disposal systems. This tendency has resulted in indiscriminate and excessive loading of waste matter into the aquatic systems, beyond their capacity of self-purification. Today, parts of the Noyyal river basin are “Industrial Wastelands”- areas subjected to degradation as a result of a large-scale discharge of industrial effluents [4]. Realizing the need for salvaging the deteriorated Noyyal river, the present study was focused to analysis the level of physico-chemical and heavy metals parameters in Noyyal river.

Objectives of this Study

Selection of five strategically located sampling sites in the Noyyal river. Seasonal /month-wise analysis of physico-chemical parameters such as colour, odour, pH, dissolved oxygen, total suspended solids, total dissolved solids, calcium hardness, magnesium hardness, chlorides, sulphates, nitrates, BOD and COD of water at all the five stations. Seasonal analysis of heavy metals in water, sediments of all the five sampling stations.

Materials and Methods

Selection of five strategically located sampling stations for Noyyal river basin, namely Chadivayal, Mangalam, Anakuli, Orathupalayam dam and Noyyal village. The Noyyal river water samples were collected every month (July-2008 to June-2009) in clean polyethylene cans or glass bottles. The sediment samples were collected in clean polyethylene bags. The samples were stored in ice pail till they were transported in the laboratory and then preserved at 5°C-10°C. All the physiochemical analyses were done within 24 h of sample collection with a help of standard methods for the examination of water and waste water [5]. Samples for oxygen analysis were fixed immediately after collection, using modified Winkler’s reagents APHA [5]. The samples for COD analysis were fixed with 1ml of Conc. H₂SO₄ [6]. Sediment samples was taken in a Petri dish and dried overnight at 50°C, in a hot air oven. 100 g of dried sediment sample was taken, then ground and sieved through a 250-mesh screen, to produce fine grains and make a water sample for acid digestion method [7]. Water samples were filtered with Whatman 40-41 filter paper. The heavy metal contents were analysed in water and sediment samples using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer Varian Techtron, AA-6D. Linear combinations of environmental factors, including heavy metals were subjected to Principal Component Analysis (PCA) using a Multivariate analysis computer software PRIMER V6 [8] to understand the environmental factors which contribute to the variations between the sampling stations and to demarcate the polluted river segments.

Results

Physical parameters like colour, odour, temperature, turbidity, total dissolved solids, and electrical conductivity were analyzed during the study period. Yearly average values are given in Table 1. The chemical parameters like pH, BOD, COD, alkalinity total, total hardness, calcium, magnesium, iron, nitrate, chloride, fluoride, sulphate, and phosphate were analysed in Noyyal river water samples. Data represented in Table 1 given average values for Chemical Parameters in Noyyal river water samples. All physical-chemical characters are observed in maximum level except chadivayal sampling stations.

Table 1: Physico-chemical characteristics of Noyyal water samples (Average Values ± Standard Deviations for 12 Months - July 2008 to June 2009).

The amount of heavy metal micro contaminants in Noyyal river water and sediment samples was analysed with Atomic Adsorption Spectrophotometer (AAS), Six heavy metals like zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), chromium (Cr) and mercury (Hg) were observed in Noyyal river water samples. Comparison between concentrations of these metals in water samples showed that they were in the following decreasing order: Cr> Zn> Cd> Pb> Cu> Hg. Table 2 shows the average values for all the heavy metals in the different locations of Noyyal river water. In Chadivayal water samples only four heavy metals could be observed in trace levels: Zn, Cu, Cd and Pb were at 0.200 mg/L, 0.024 mg/L, 0.005 mg/L and 0.040 mg/L respectively. In Mangalam water samples six heavy metals could be observed and they were little higher in amount than in Chadivayal samples. In Anakuli water samples higher concentrations of heavy metals could be recorded compared to Chadivayal and Mangalam samples. Cr and Zn were found in 2.123 mg/L and 1.696 mg/L concentrations respectively in Anakuli water samples. Cr and Zn were at top level in this station. In Orathupalayam dam water, heavy metals were found in high concentrations-higher than the other sampling locations.

Table 2: Heavy metal concentrations (mg/L) of Noyyal Water samples (Average Values ± Standard Deviations for 12 Months - July 2008 to June 2009). Indian Standards drinking water specifications (1991), Bureau of Indian Standard, Indian Standard 10500.

Heavy metal ions were found in the following decreasing order of concentration: Cr>Zn>Cd>Cu>Pb>Hg. Maximum average for Cr was 3.358 mg/L and for Zn, 2.867 mg/L in Orathupalayam dam water. The heavy metal concentrations of Noyyal village water samples were lower than those of Orathupalayam dam, but much higher than in the other sampling sites. Generally, in Noyyal village water samples Cr and Zn were in high concentrations, while Cd, Cu, Pb and Hg were at lower concentrations. The data given in Table 3 show the average levels of heavy metals in the sediment samples from different locations of Noyyal river. Totally six heavy metals were observed from four study locations, except Chadivayal where Cr and Hg were absent. Maximum concentrations of heavy metals were observed in Orathupalayam dam and Noyyal village sediment samples. The Cr and Zn were in higher concentrations than the other heavy metals. Chadivayal sediments had least levels of all the heavy metals.

Table 3: Heavy metal concentrations (mg/kg) of Noyyal Sediment samples (Average Values ± Standard Deviations for 12 Months - July 2008 to June 2009).

Principal component analysis of physico-chemical factors and heavy metals

Twenty-two variables (physico-chemical factors and Heavy metals) of four sampling stations: Chadivayal, Mangalam, Orathupalayam dam and Noyyal village were subjected to Principal Component (PC) analysis and three PCs could be extracted. PC₁ had the eigen value 14.7 and this could account for 66.8% of the variation of environmental factors. PC₂ explained another 21.5% of variation and PC₃, 11.7% variation. Linear combinations of the variables defined the axes of PC₁ and PC₂ , otherwise known as eigen vectors. Each element of the eigen vectors (Table 4), represented the contribution of a given environmental factor to a Principal Component. Coefficients of eigen vector-equations for PC₁ and PC₂ were also represented as a vector plot ( Figure 1). The vector length reflected the importance of each variable’s contribution PC₁ and PC₂ axes, in relation to all PC axes. From the plot, it could be understood that the environmental factors primarily involved in the variations between sampling stations were temperature, turbidity, TDS, BOD, COD, alkalinity, hardness (Ca, Mg), iron, Nitrate, fluoride, chloride and sulphates. Among the heavy metals, zinc, cadmium and chromium were prominent in contributing to the variations. The plot also revealed the segregation of the sampling sites based on environmental parameters. By virtue of the lesser levels of environmental factors and their reasonable stability, Chadivayal was the least in the order of environmental pollution, or the habitat was less governed by the selected environmental factors. The progressive nature in the influence of environmental factors was evident as the river flowed downstream through Mangalam to reach Orathupalayam dam, where the highest influence of environmental factors was evident. A slight recovery at Noyyal village was also observed ( Figure 1) PC scores (Table 4) also point to the high influence of environmental factors, in other words pollution at the Orathupalayam dam site.

Table 4: Principal component analysis – environmental data.

Discussion

Noyyal river is subjected to inputs from urban, industrial and agricultural wastes and as a consequence, the physico-chemical characteristics of the water show a high degree of variability when compared to other rivers. The extent of water pollution is generally expressed by parameters such as pH, EC, dissolved oxygen, BOD, COD, nutrients, minerals and etc. Water in Chadivayal and Mangalam was colourless and odourless. Remaining sampling stations showed light brown colour, and the water was odorous. Industrial waste water from Tiruppur would have changed the colour and odour of river water in the Anakuli-Orathupalayam section. Noyyal exhibits high level of TDS and various salts due to industrial effluents [9] Geetha. [10] reported high values of pH, alkalinity, chloride, nitrogen, sulphate, phosphate, total hardness, magnesium and sodium in water samples collected from the ground water sources of Tiruppur and suggested the possible contamination of these sources with bleaching and dyeing wastes since most of the waste water from Tiruppur is discharged into the River Noyyal. Water turbidity is caused by suspended inorganic substances, dispersion organic substances, microorganisms etc. Low value of turbidity (1.4 NTU) was observed at Chadivayal and high turbidity (5.2 NTU) in Orathupalayam dam. Turbidity in the lower Noyyal river zones was well above the WHO permissible limits. Particularly the water samples collected from Orathupalayam dam showed high TDS value (3,814 mg/L). High value of TDS in river may cause laxative or constipation effects [11]. BOD is yet another important parameter of quality of water and it referees for the amount of used oxygen for biochemical decomposition of organic matter in water. BOD is used for the determination of the relative demand of oxygen for effluents and discard waters and is an indicator of pollution level. The values of BOD were at high level at Anakuli and Orathupalayam dam throughout the study period indicating thus the poor water quality due to the organic pollutants from industries and textile mills of Tiruppur and Coimbatore city. The maximum BOD value 23.2 mg/l was recorded in Orathupalayam dam and the minimum 0.48 mg/L observed in [12]. In the present study, COD was found to vary from 1.0 mg/l (minimum) to 47 mg/l (maximum). At Orathupalayam the BOD and COD values were found to be high all through the study period (Table 1) and were well beyond the permissible limits of WHO. These suggest that Noyyal river water is contaminated by textile industrial chemicals and municipal effluents almost all through the course of the river.

Heavy metals are considered a major cause of pollution in natural waters and have received considerable attention because of their inherent toxicity to living organisms. The heavy metals reach aquatic environment, remain suspended or partially dissolved in the water column and get accumulated in organisms. Heavy metals like Zn, Cu, Cd, Pb, Cr and Hg at different locations of Noyyal river water samples and sediment were studied. The Noyyal river water is subjected to inputs from urban and industrial wastes from Tirupur and Coimbatore cities and agricultural wastes and these might be the main reasons for the increase in heavy metal content. The untreated dye house effluents from Tirupur city could have contributed more to heavy metal contamination of water and sediments. Cr and Zn were higher in concentration in water and sediments, than the other heavy metals. The relative dominance of the heavy metals in water was observed in following sequence: Cr>Zn>Cd>Cu>Pb>Hg. [13] reports that metals, and in distinction heavy metals, have special importance in the pollution of surface waters and concentrations of some of these are beneficial, whereas some of them are harmful and toxic. Some metals such as calcium and magnesium are essential chemical elements, whereas other metals negatively influence odd consumers of water. It is confirmed that Pb, Hg and as are powerful pollutants and poisonous. Toxicity of heavy metals depends from the kind of metal, the compound, from the amount which arrives in organisms and from time-extension action of metal. In this metal group comes: Hg, Pb, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, As, Zn.

All the physico-chemical and heavy metals parameters in different sampling stations of river Noyyal were found in very high concentrations except Chadivayal. There results clearly indicate that River Noyyal has now turned into a huge drain bearing industrial wastes and effluents in its meandering path. The quality deterioration of water affects the crop growth and ultimately the productivity of agricultural land.

Conclusion

The findings of the study show that the water and sediment in Noyyal river can get contaminated with industrial waste. Results of the study also showed that considerable amounts of heavy metals are observed like cadmium, chromium, zinc, copper, mercury, lead and totally 23 physiochemical parameters were analyzed in five sampling locations of the river. The heavy metals in the water increase the potential for heavy metals to accumulate in the aquatic organisms as these pollutants enter the fish and macro invertebrates through several routes. On consumption, heavy metals enter into the food chain and cause deleterious effect to humans. The results of the present study reflect the magnitude of heavy metal pollution of River Noyyal and underscore the necessity for undertaking remediatory measures.

References

1. Senthilnathan S, Azee PA. Water quality of effluents from dyeing and bleaching industry in Tirupur, Tamilnadu, India. Jr. of Industrial Pollution Control. 1999;15(1):79-88.
2. Vellee BL, Ulmer DD. Biochemical effect of mercury, cadmium and lead. Ann Rev Biochem. 1972;41:91-128.
3. Amman AA, Michalke B, Schramel P, et al. Speciation of heavy metals in environmental water by ion chromatography coupled to ICP-MS. Anal Biochem. 2002;372(3):448-452.
4. Sankararaaj L, Subramanian TP, Siddhamalai A,et al. Quality of soil and water for agriculture in noyyal river basin, Tamil Nadu. Joint Director of Agriculture (Research), Soil Survey and Land Use Organization, Tamil Nadu Department of Agriculture, Coimbatore. India. 2002.
5. APHA. Standard methods for the examination of water and waste water. (Eds): Clesceri LS, Greeberg, AG, Rhodes R.Trussell, American Public Health Association, Washington, D.C. 1989;10:203.
6. EPA (Environmental Protection Agency). Manual of methods for chemical analysis of water and wastes, methods development and quality assurance research laboratory. National Environmental research centre, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Cinicinnati, Ohio 45268, Office of the technology transfer, Washington, DC. 1974;20460.
7. Clesceri LS, Green AE, Eaton AD, et al. Standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater. 20th ed. Washington D.C.: American Public Health Assoc., American Water Works Assoc., and Water Environment Fed.1998;2: 1-90, 4: 52-160, 10: 1-28.
8. Clarke KR, Gorpey RN. PRIMER V6: User Manual Tutorial, PRIMER-E.UK:Plymouth.2006; 190p.
9. Geetha A, Palanisamy PN, Sivakumar P, et al.Assessment of Underground water contamination and effect of Textile effluents on Noyyal river Basin in and around Tiruppur Town, Tamilnadu. J Chem. 2008;5(4):696-705.
10. Ramaswami V,Rejaguru P. Ground water quality of Tiruppur. Indian J Environ Hlth. 1991;33(2):187-191.
11. Gupta S, Kumar A, Ojha CK, et al. Study of the bacteriological and physicochemical indicators of pollution of surface water in Zaria, Nigeria. J Environ Sci Eng. 2004;46(1):74-8.
12. Usharani K, Umarani K, Ayyasamy PM,et al. Physico-chemical and bacteriological characteristics of Noyyal River and ground water quality of Perur, India. J ApplSci Environ Manage. 2010;14(2):29-35.
13. DurmishiBujar H, Murtezan I, Agim S, et al. The physical, physical- chemical and chemical parameters determination of river water Shkumbini (Pena), Balwois - Ohrid, Republic of Macedonia. 2008;27:31.