Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Analysis of some heavy metals in the riverine water, sediments and fish from river Ganges at Allahabad

  • Published:
Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The river Ganges has been one of the major recipients of industrial effluents in India. The present paper deals with the study related to occurrence and bioaccumulation of heavy metals (Cu, Cr, Cd, Pb, Zn) in the riverine water, sediment, and the muscles of two cat fish species, Channa punctatus (C. punctatus) and Aorichthys aor (A. aor) procured from the river Ganges at Allahabad. The data obtained after water analysis reflected the order of occurrence of heavy metals to be Zn > Pb > Cu > Cr > Cd, respectively. The analysis of heavy metals in sediment indicated that among the five heavy metals tested; Zn was maximally accumulated followed by Pb, Cr, Cu and Cd. The trend of heavy metals accumulation in fish muscles was found to be similar to that observed in sediment and water such as Zn > Pb > Cu > Cr > Cd. Data indicated that Zn accumulated maximally in the sediment as well as muscles of both of the fish species in comparison to other metals.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Atchison, G. J., Murphy, B. R., Bishop, W. E., Mclntosh, A. W., & Mayes, R. A. (1977). Trace metal contamination of bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus) from two Indiana lakes. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society, 106, 637–640. doi:10.1577/1548-8659(1977)106<637:TMCOBL>2.0.CO;2.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bervotes, L., Blust, R., & Verheyen, R. (2001). Accumulation of metals in the tissue of three spined stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus) from natural fresh waters. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, 48, 117–127. doi:10.1006/eesa.2000.2010.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Besser, J. M., Brumbaugh, W. G., May, T. W., Church, S. E., & Kimball, B. A. (2001). Bioavailability of metals in stream food webs and hazards to brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) in the upper Animas River watershed, Colorado. Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, 40, 48–58. doi:10.1007/s002440010147.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Beyer, W. N., Day, D., Melancon, M. J., & Sileo, L. (2000). Toxicity of Anacostia River, Washington Dc, USA, sediment fed to mute swams (Cygnus olor). Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 19, 731–735. doi:10.1897/1551-5028(2000)019<0731:TOARWD>2.3.CO;2.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bonga, S. E., & Lock, R. A. (2003). Metal toxicity to fish Barbara Jezierska and Malgorzata Witeska. University of Podlasie, Siedlce, Poland. (2001). 318 pp. PL ISSN 08 60 2719. Aquaculture (Amsterdam, Netherlands), 217, 686–691. doi:10.1016/S0044-8486(02)00308-3.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bowen, H. J. M. (1966). Trace elements in biochemistry. New York: Academic Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brungs, W. A., Leonard, E. N., & McKim, J. M. (1973). Acute and long term accumulation of copper by the brown bullhead, Ictalurus nebulosus. Journal of the Fisheries Research Board of Canada, 30, 583–586.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Burger, J., Gaines, K. F., Boring, S., Syephans, L., Snodgrass, J., Dixon, C., et al. (2002). Metals levels in fish from the Savannah River: Potential hazards to fish and other receptors. Environmental Research, 89, 95–97. doi:10.1006/enrs.2002.4330.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Collvin, L. (1985). Effects of copper on growth and starvation in perch, Perca fluviatilis L. Journal of Fish Biology, 27, 757–764. doi:10.1111/j.1095-8649.1985.tb03218.x.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Eggleton, J., & Thomas, K. V. (2004). A review of factors affecting the release and bioavailability of contaminants during sediment disturbance events. Environment International, 30, 973–980. doi:10.1016/j.envint.2004.03.001.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Environment Canada (2005). The green lane. website: http//www.ec.gc.ca.

  • EPA (1976). Heavy metals in the sediments of Port Phillip Bay and Input Streams. Environmental Protection Authority, Victoria. Report No. 16/76.

  • Fleischer, M., Sarofim, A. F., Fassett, D. W., Hammond, P., Shacklette, H. T., & Epstein, S. (1974). Environmental impact of cadmium: A review by the panel on hazardous trace substances. Environmental Health Perspectives, 7, 253–323. doi:10.2307/3428019.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Giguere, A., Campbell, P. G. C., Hare, L., Mc Donald, D. G., & Rasmussen, J. B. (2004). Influence of lake chemistry and fish age on cadmium, copper and zinc concentrations in various organs of indigenous yellow perch (Percaflavescens). Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, 61, 702–1716. doi:10.1139/f04-100.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Halcrow, W., Mackay, D. W., & Thornton, L. (1973). The distribution of trace metals and fauna in the Firth of Clyde in relation to the disposal of sludge. Journal of Marine Biology and Assessment, U.K., 53, 721–739.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hansen, J. A., Welsh, P. G., Lipton, J., Cacela, D., & Dailey, A. D. (2002). Relative sensibility of bull trout (Salvelinus confluentus) and rainbow trout (Onchorhynchus mykiss) to acute exposure of cadmium and zinc. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 21, 67–75. doi:10.1897/1551-5028(2002)021<0067:RSOBTS>2.0.CO;2.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hewitt, M., & Servos, M. (2001). An overview of substances present in the Canadian aquatic environment associated with endocrine disruption. Water Quality Research Journal of Canada, 36, 191–213.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hiltibran, R. C. (1971). Effects of cadmium, zinc, manganese, and calcium on oxygen and phosphate metabolism of bluegill liver mitochondria. Journal—Water Pollution Control Federation, 43(5), 818–823. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:River_Ganges_and_tributaries.png.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jones, I., Kille, P., & Sweeney, G. (2001). Cadmium delays growth hormone expression during rainbow trout development. Journal of Fish Biology, 59, 1015–1022. doi:10.1111/j.1095-8649.2001.tb00168.x.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lagerwerff, J. V. (1972). Lead, mercury, and cadmium as environmental contaminants. In J. J. Mortvedt et al. (Ed.), Micronutrients in agriculture. Madison, Wis.: Soil Science Society of America, Inc.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lydersen, E., LÖfgren, S., & Arnese, R. T. (2002). Metals in Scandinavian surface waters: Effects of acidification, liming and potential reacidification. Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology, 32, 73–295. doi:10.1080/10643380290813453.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Manjappa, S., & Puttaioh, E. T. (2005). Evaluation of trace metals in the sediments of river Bhadra near Bhadravathi town, Karnataka, India. Journal of Industrial Pollution Control, 21(2), 271–276.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Marchese, M., Gagneten, A. M., Parma, M. J., & Pavé Paola, J. (2008). Accumulation and elimination of chromium by freshwater species exposed to spiked sediments. Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology. doi:10.1007/s00244-008-9139-0.

  • Mathis, B. J., & Cummings, T. F. (1973). Selected metals in sediments, water and biota in the Illinois River. Journal - Water Pollution Control Federation, 48, 1913–1918.

    Google Scholar 

  • May, T. W., Wiedmeyer, R. R., Gober, J., & Larson, S. (2001). Influence of mining related activities on concentration of metals in water and sediment from streams of the black Hills, South Dakota. Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, 40, 1–9. doi:10.1007/s002440010142.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • McCormick, Sd., O’Dea, M. F., Moeckel, A. M., Lerner, D. T., & Bjornsson, B. T. (2005). Endocrine disruption of parr-smolt transformation and seawater tolerance of Atlantic Salmon by 4-nolyphenol and 17ß estradiol. General and Comparative Endocrinology, 142, 280–288. doi:10.1016/j.ygcen.2005.01.015.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Misra, P. C., Behera, P. C., & Patel, R. K. (2005). Contamination of water due to major industries and open refuse dumping in the steel city of Orissa—a case study. Journal of Environmental Sciences and Technology, 47, 141–154.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mount, D. I., & Stephan, C. E. (1969). Chronic toxicity of copper to the fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas) in soft water. Journal of the Fisheries Research Board of Canada, 26, 2449–2457.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Newarman, M. C. (1998). Fundamentals of ecotoxicology (pp. 25–39). Chelsea, USA: Ann. Arbor Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Patrick, P. M., & Loutit, M. W. (1978). Passage of metals to freshwater fish from their food. Water Research, 12, 395–398. doi:10.1016/0043-1354(78)90106-9.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Phillips, G. R., & Russo, R. C. (1978). Metal bioaccumulation in fishes and aquatic invertebrates. EPA-600/3-78-103. Duluth, Minn.: Environmental Protection Agency.

    Google Scholar 

  • Plachy, J. (2003). Cadmium. In USGS. US geological survey minerals yearbook- 2003 (pp. 15.1–15.5). VA, USA: Reston.

  • Riddell, D. J., Culp, J. M., & Baird, D. J. (2005). Behavioural response to sublethal cadmium within an experiment aquatic food web. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 24, 431–441. doi:10.1897/04-026R.1.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sorensen, E. M. B. (1976). Toxicity and accumulation of arsenic in green sunfish, Lepomis cyanellus, exposed to arsenate in water. Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, 15, 756–761. doi:10.1007/BF01685629.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Thompson, S., Foran, C. M., & Benson, W. H. (2000). Effects of cadmium on the hypothalamus pituitary-gonadal axis in Japanese Medaka (Oryzias latipus). 21th SETAC-Annual meeting Nashville (p. 268). 12–16 November. Nashville, Tennessee, USA.

  • Tort, L., Torres, P., & Flos, R. (1987). Effects on dogfish haematology and liver composition after acute copper exposure. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology, 87, 349–353.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • US-EPA, United States Environmental Protection Agency (2001). 2001 update of ambient water quality criteria for cadmium (p. 166). Washington DC, USA: US-EPA Health and Ecological Effects Criteria Division.

  • Vinodhini, R., & Narayana, M. (2008). Bioaccumulation of heavy metals in organs of fresh water fish Cyprinus carpio (Common carp). International Journal of Environmental Sciences and Technology, 5, 179–182.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • World Health Organization (1984). Guidelines for drinking-water quality (Vol. 1). Geneva, Switzerland: Recommendations, World Health Organization.

    Google Scholar 

  • World Health Organization (WHO) (1993). Revision of WHO guidelines for water quality. WHO Geneva.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biochemistry, University of Allahabad, Allahabad, India

    Aradhna Gupta, Devendra K. Rai & Bechan Sharma

  2. Department of Zoology, University of Allahabad, Allahabad, India

    Ravi S. Pandey

Authors
  1. Aradhna Gupta
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Devendra K. Rai
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Ravi S. Pandey
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Bechan Sharma
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Gupta, A., Rai, D.K., Pandey, R.S. et al. Analysis of some heavy metals in the riverine water, sediments and fish from river Ganges at Allahabad. Environ Monit Assess 157, 449–458 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-008-0547-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-008-0547-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation