The Science of the Total Environment 227 Ž1999.

175]185

Determination of lead and other metals in a residential

area of greater Calcutta

Amit ChatterjeeU , R.N. Banerjee

Department of Chemistry, Jada¨ pur Uni¨ ersity, Jada¨ pur, India

Received 15 September 1998; accepted 14 January 1999

Abstract

The aim of the study was to determine the major source and extent of metal pollution in a residential area of
Greater Calcutta. In this area approximately 50 000 people reside in the vicinity of a lead factory that produces lead
ingots and lead alloys. Many people, especially children, are affected by lead toxicity. Soils, waters, road dust, leaf
dust, leaves and pond sediments were sampled in and around the factory area. Aliquots of the samples were
mineralized with nitric acid and hydrogen peroxide in a microwave system. Lead and 19 other elements were
quantified in the digests by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The performance of the procedure was
confirmed by analyzing NBS-BCR standard reference soil, leaves, sediment samples. The soils are highly contami-
nated not only with lead Ž4.7%., but also with Cd Ž0.08%., Ag Ž0.001%., Cu Ž0.02%., Zn Ž1.0%., As Ž1.0%., Mo
Ž0.003%., Sn Ž0.003%. and Hg Ž0.03%. Žmetal concentrations given in parentheses are maximum.. Moving away from
the smelter, most of metal concentrations, especially Pb, As, Mo, Cu, Hg, Zn, Cd, Sn and Ag, decreased
exponentially over increasing distance. In the residential areas near the smelter, notably to the west side of the
factory, metal concentrations significantly breached the threshold trigger values set in India by the Central Pollution
Control Board ŽCPCB.. Particulate materials from the smelter stack appear to contaminate soils up to at least 0.5
km. However, abnormally high metal levels in the immediate smelter area may be due to primarily fugitive emissions.
The surface waters are only contaminated by arsenic ranges from 0.05 to 13.5 mgrl, but the ground water is currently
not polluted by lead and arsenic. An appropriate treatment plant with some intervention measures should be taken
to save the locality. Q 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Keywords: Metals; ICP-MS; Microwave; Lead; Smelter

U
Corresponding author. Environmental Chemodynamics Section, Environmental Chemistry Division, National Institute for Envi-
ronmental Studies, 16-2 Onogawa, Tsukuba, Ibaraki-3050053, Japan. Tel.: q81-298-502450; fax: q81-298-502574; e-mail: amit.chat-
terje@nies.go.jp

0048-9697r99r$ - see front matter Q 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
PII: S 0 0 4 8 - 9 6 9 7 Ž 9 9 . 0 0 0 2 6 - 1
176 A. Chatterjee, R.N. Banerjee r The Science of the Total En¨ ironment 227 (1999) 175]185
1. Introduction
Exposure to lead is hazardous to humans, par-
ticularly to children with their immature neuro-
logical system ŽHamester et al., 1994; Howden et
al., 1996.. Reduced cognitive development and
impaired intellectual performance of children
ŽOskarson et al., 1995. has been linked to lead
exposure. Lead is readily transported across the
placenta to the fetus and in human milk to in-
fants ŽRabinowitz et al., 1985.. Lead was identi-
fied as one of the most commonly occurring con-
taminants ŽHafen and Brinkmann, 1996.. Lead
mines, primary and secondary lead smelters, and
battery-recycling plants discharge lead to the air,
to surface waters, and to groundwater ŽSmall et
al., 1995.. Airborne, lead-containing particles are
ultimately deposited on soils. In residential areas,
exposure to lead from soils occurs directly through
inhalation or ingestion of dust during gardening
activities or childhood play. Inhaled and ingested
lead is transferred into the blood and body tissues
ŽUS EPA, 1986; Wixson and Davies, 1994..
Mercury, arsenic, cadmium, silver and zinc are
also well-known potential toxic elements
ŽSamanta, 1996.. These elements contaminate the
environment during lead smelting ŽTemple et al.,
1977; Hemphill and Clevenger, 1979; Landrigan
and Baker, 1981; Carvalho et al., 1989; Mar-
avelies et al., 1989; Kalac et al., 1991; Rieuwerts
and Farago, 1995, 1996. as all are associated with
lead ore. It has been established that populations
exposed to these elements developed alterations
in their nervous system functions, with neurophys-
iological consequences constituting a severe
health hazard ŽLandrigan and Baker, 1981; US
EPA, 1986; Chatterjee et al., 1993; Samanta, 1996;
Olivero and Solano, 1998.. A significant increase
in soil-metal concentrations in the vicinity of lead
smelters was found by several researchers ŽLittle
and Martin, 1972; Roberts et al., 1974; Linzon et
al., 1976; Temple et al., 1977; Bisessar, 1982;
Farago and Connell, 1983; Rieuwerts and Farago,
1996.. Such increases have been attributed to
emissions from both smelter stacks and fugitive
sources such as stockpiles and waste heaps ŽRolfe
and Jennett, 1975; Rieuwerts and Farago, 1996..
Smelter-emitted lead and other elements have
been found to exhibit little mobility down the soil
profile ŽLittle and Martin, 1972; Rolfe and Jen-
nett, 1975; Brown et al., 1985; Rieuwerts and
Farago, 1996.. Epidemiological studies have
recorded high levels of lead and cadmium in the
blood and urine of those living close to lead
smelters, particularly children ŽFarago, 1979;
Roels et al., 1980; Landrigan and Baker, 1981;
Carvalho et al., 1989; Maravelies et al., 1989;
Silvany-Neto et al., 1989..
The present study is centered on Calcutta, an
historic well-known city and considered one of
the most polluted cities in the world ŽChatterjee
et al., 1993.. Calcutta lies on the eastern bank of
the river Hoogly and situated in the Ganges delta
approximately 100 km from the sea ŽFig. 1.. Within
the 104 km2 of the city area, 11 500 small and
large factories are located. In and around Cal-
cutta, 42 factories produce lead alloys and lead
ingots ŽFig. 1.. A few hundred thousand people
live in the vicinity of these factories.
To assess the degree of pollution with metals,
especially with lead, and the sourceŽs. of contami-
nation in a Calcutta neighborhood adjoining a
lead factory, soil, dusts from the roads and from
leaves on trees, pond sediments, and water were
collected. The lead and 19 other elements were
quantified in these samples by ICP-MS after mi-
crowave digestion.
The lead factory ŽFig. 2., occupying an area of
4045 m2 , has produced 350 metric tons of lead
ingots and lead alloys per month for the last 25
years. It has a chimney of 18 m which chimney
could not be raised beyond 18 m, as the airport is
close and directly affected by the chimney. Al-
though the factory has some emission control
devices, they are far from adequate to control the
contamination. At present, 50 000 people are liv-
ing Žwithin a 3-km circle. in and around the
factory and this population is increasing day by
day. A group of the population Ž5.0%., notably
the children, have already been affected by lead
and other toxic metals pollution.
2. Experimental
A microwave digestion system ŽMLS 1200
Mega. from Milestone, Leutkirch, Germany, with
 A. Chatterjee, R.N. Banerjee r The Science of the Total En¨ ironment 227 (1999) 175]185 177

Fig. 1. Lead factories in and around Calcutta city.

a rotor for six Teflon digestion vessels designed
for pressures up to 60 bar served as the closed-
pressurized microwave system. The vessels are
equipped with a pressure-release system. A spe-
cially-designed vessel that allows a temperature
sensor and a pressure sensor to be connected and
the progress of the digestion to be monitored, can
be substituted for one of the six vessels. The
temperature and the pressure data are displayed
on the instrument and can be stored and visual-
ized with a dedicated computer and software. The
magnetron mounted on the ceiling of the mi-
crowave oven can operate at powers of 250 or
1000 W. The 1000 W stage can be pulsed to
178 A. Chatterjee, R.N. Banerjee r The Science of the Total En¨ ironment 227 (1999) 175]185
Fig. 2. Sampling sites surrounding the study lead factory.
deliver time-averaged power in 10-W steps in the
range from 10 to 990 W.
Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometric
measurements were performed with a VG Plas-
maQuad Turbo Plus ŽVG Elemental Ltd, Win-
ford, UK. equipped with a Meinhard concentric
glass nebulizer type TR-30-A3, a double-pass,
Scott-type spray chamber Žwater cooled, 08C., and
a Gilson Minipuls-3 peristaltic pump. The operat-
ing conditions for the ICP-MS are: rf power for-
ward 1.35 kW, reflected - 5 W; argon flows for
cooling 13.5 l miny1 , for auxiliary 0.9 l miny1 , for
nebulizer 0.92 l miny1 ; nebulizer uptake ; 1.0 ml
miny1 ; sample cone, nickel, orifice 1.0 mm diame-
ter; skimmer cone, nickel, orifice 0.7 mm diame-
ter.
2.1. Reagents and solutions
Multi-element stock solution containing Ag, Al,
Ba, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mg, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Rb, Sr,
Tl, V with concentrations of 10 mgrl, As, Fe, Se,
Zn with 100 mgrl, and Ca 1000 mgrl Ž10580 ICP
Multi Element Standard VI E. Merck VI, No.
1.10580.0100 Darmstadt, Germany. has been used
for the standard solutions preparations of ICP-MS
ŽStandard 1.. By combination and appropriate
dilution of aliquots of stock solutions Ž1000 mgrl
for Hg, Sn and Sb from each Merck Titrisol
ampoules. with nitric acid Ž5%., standard solu-
tions with a concentration of 10 mgrl of each
element were obtained ŽStandard 2.. A solution
containing In Žin HNO3 . at a concentration of 10
mgrl was prepared from 1000 mgrl ŽE. Merck,
D-1600, No. 19504.05 Darmstadt, Germany. by
appropriate dilution with nitric acid Ž5%. ŽStan-
dard 3.. Aliquots of Standard 1 and Standard 2
solutions were diluted with nitric acid Ž5%. to
produce standard solutions of: 5, 10 and 20 m grl
each of Hg and Sn; 1000, 5000 and 10 000 m grl of
 A. Chatterjee, R.N. Banerjee r The Science of the Total En¨ ironment 227 (1999) 175]185
Ca; and 10, 50 and 100 m grl each of Mg, Fe, Rb,
Sr, V, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Mo, Pb, As, Cd, Ba, Cr
and Ag. Before the volumetric flasks were filled
to the mark, aliquots of Standard 3 were added to
achieve a final concentration of 100 m g Inrl in
each solution. The calibration curves were es-
tablished with these most dilute solutions contain-
ing In spikes that are needed for the internal
calibration of the ICP-MS response.
The digestions were carried out with high pu-
rity hydrogen peroxide Ž30% Suprapur, Merck,
No.7298. and concentrated nitric acid ŽMerck p.a.,
purified by sub-boiling distillation..
All glassware was cleaned by soaking for 24 h
in concentrated nitric acid, followed by rinsing
three times with high resistivity water Ž18 MV
cm, Barnstead, NANOpure; Boston, USA..
Montana Soil SRM-2710, San Joaquin Soil,
SRM-2709 from the National Institute of Stan-
dards and Technology ŽGaithersburg, Maryland,
USA., Sewage Sludge BCR No. 144 and Olive
Leaves BCR No. 062 from the Commission of
European Communities served as standard refer-
ence materials.
2.2. Methods
2.2.1. Sample collection
Soils ŽS1 ]S12 ., pond sediments ŽT1 ]T3 ., leaves
ŽL., road dust ŽRD., dust from leaves ŽLD., and
water ŽW1 ]W12 . were collected during April 1996
in a residential area of Calcutta located 20 km
northwest of downtown. The lead factory oper-
ates in this area. The sampling sites surrounding
the factory are identified in Fig. 2. Soils were
collected with a Teflon knife after scraping away
the top 0.5 cm. The soil samples were placed in
plastic bags. The sediments T1 and T2 came from
ponds used by people for bathing, supplementary
household water and pisciculture. Sediment T3
came from a pond close to the factory that is not
used by the local people. Soils and sediments
were dried at 808C for 24 h, manually ground to a
fine powder with a mortar and passed through a
30-mesh sieve ŽChatterjee et al., 1993..
The road dust Ž; 20 g. was collected by gently
sweeping the road with a soft plastic brush. Dust
from leaves Ž; 1 g. was brushed from the top of
179
the leaves into a plastic bag. The dusts were dried
at 608C for 24 h and passed through a 30-mesh
sieve.
Water from nine tubewells used for drinking
and water from the three ponds was collected as
described previously ŽChatterjee et al., 1993..
2.2.2. Digestion
An aliquot Ž; 0.20 g. of the dry, finely powdered
solid was weighed into a dry, clean Teflon diges-
tion vessel. Concentrated nitric acid Ž5.00 ml. and
hydrogen peroxide Ž1.00 ml. were added. The
vessel was closed, placed into the rotor, and tight-
ened. The loaded rotor was placed into the mi-
crowave oven. The digestion was carried out with
the following program: 250 W for 2 min; 0 W for
0.5 min; 250 W for 10 min; 0 W for 0.5 min; 450
W for 5 min; 0 W for 0.5 min; 600 W for 5 min;
and 500 W for 7 min. The vessels were cooled and
carefully opened. Each digest was transferred
quantitatively to a 100-ml volumetric flask. Before
the volumetric flasks were filled to the mark, an
aliquot of the standard In solution was added to
achieve a final concentration of 100 m g Inrl.
These solutions were analyzed by ICP-MS. The
Standard Reference Materials were digested un-
der the same conditions.
3. Results and discussion
3.1. Soils, sediments, dusts and lea¨ es
3.1.1. Extent of contamination
The analytical results for 12 soil samples
ŽS1 ]S12 : S1 ]S 3 in the west; S 4 ]S6 in the north;
S 7 ]S 9 in the east; and S10 ]S12 in the south.,
three sediments from ponds ŽPond 1, Pond 2 and
Pond 3 in Fig. 2., road dust ŽRD., leaf dust ŽLD.
and leaves ŽL. are summarized in Tables 1 and 2.
To check whether our analytical results agree
with standard reference materials, the standard
reference samples ŽSoils SRM-2709, 2710, Sedi-
ment BCR-144, Leaves BCR-062., were analyzed
after utilizing the same digestion and analytical
procedure as that of samples. Obtained values are
in good agreement with certified value ŽTable 3..
The concentration of Pb, As, Cd, Hg, Ag, Sn,
Mo, Zn and Cu in topsoils are higher than the
 180

Table 1
Metal concentrations in soil samples by ICP-MS Žmgrkg.

Element S1 S2 S3 S4 S5 S6 S7 S8 S9 S10 S11 S12

Mg Ž%. 0.43" 0.01 0.56" 0.01 0.81" 0.01 0.77" 0.03 0.76" 0.02 0.79" 0.05 0.67" 0.02 0.55" 0.05 5.30" 0.07 0.88" 0.02 0.67" 0.03 0.41" 0.06
Ca Ž%. 0.78" 0.02 1.27" 0.05 1.46" 0.06 1.02" 0.03 1.01" 0.02 1.46" 0.03 1.74" 0.10 0.81" 0.02 0.43" 0.01 1.55" 0.05 1.13" 0.06 1.22" 0.04
Fe Ž%. 2.15" 0.11 2.10" 0.19 1.75" 0.16 2.07" 0.18 1.83" 0.18 1.79" 0.11 1.42" 0.09 2.18" 0.12 2.42" 0.12 2.15" 0.05 1.58" 0.08 0.99" 0.03
Rb 47 " 4.7 51 " 4.1 58 " 3.2 59 " 3.6 68 " 6.5 65 " 1.2 47 " 1.8 74 " 5 81 " 6 71 " 3.5 58 " 4.2 30 " 1.2
Sr 76 " 1.4 72 " 2.2 33 " 2.3 27 " 1.2 34 " 2.2 56 " 3.4 64 " 4.0 33 " 3.0 20.5" 1.2 61 " 5.0 44 " 1.2 33 " 1.5
V 43 " 2.0 55 " 3.5 42 " 1.1 55 " 2 52 " 2.4 49 " 2.7 45 " 2.0 46 " 2.0 66 " 5 66 " 3.3 48 " 2.1 29 " 2.3
Mn 360 " 26 650 " 18 381 " 39 620 " 18 469 " 24 475 " 45 524 " 24 494 " 18 511 " 21 530 " 33 407 " 25 266 " 22
Co 10.6" 0.33 12.8" 1.1 10.8" 0.8 13.6" 1.2 11.4" 1.01 11.1 " 0.71 11.3" 0.55 14.3" 1.1 14.4" 0.85 13.3" 0.28 10.5" 0.97 6.59" 0.34
Ni 31 " 1.3 36 " 2.3 26 " 1.2 31 " 1.9 32 " 2.8 28 " 2.8 30 " 3.0 40 " 2.3 36 " 1.9 32 " 1.2 26 " 1.5 16.5" 1.1
Cu 204 " 12 156 " 8.5 32 " 3.0 66 " 4 106 " 8.5 74 " 3 142 " 9 92 " 3 43 " 3 39 " 3.7 81 " 7 17.7" 1.1
Zn 10 300 " 200 4980 " 110 151 " 14 588 " 51 984 " 74 342 " 30 3800 " 321 1305 " 56 180 " 15 182 " 18 175 " 10 90 " 8
Mo 32 " 1.3 17.8" 1.1 0.44" 0.03 1.45" 0.03 3.30" 0.15 1.03" 0.08 10.3" 0.79 4.36" 0.04 0.87" 0.07 0.73" 0.06 0.46" 0.05 0.17" 0.01
Sn 34 " 3.1 19.0" 1.7 1.36" 0.13 4.72" 0.41 8.68" 0.56 2.58" 0.21 23 " 2.2 6.73" 1.01 0.54" 0.02 0.96" 0.07 1.34" 0.10 0.64" 0.06
Pb Ž%. 4.67" 0.21 2.02" 0.11 400 " 20 0.34" 0.03 0.42" 0.02 1000 " 10 a 0.49" 0.02 0.38" 0.02 200 " 10 a 600 " 20 a 632 " 31a 300 " 25a
Cd 833 " 73 296 " 19 3.16" 0.3 30 " 2.3 46 " 3.7 4.65" 0.41 217 " 18 38 " 3.1 0.66" 0.07 3.67" 0.31 2.87" 0.09 1.16" 0.10
As 9740 " 226 4170 " 111 36 " 3.0 360 " 15 406 " 24 75 " 7.2 1103 " 61 396 " 30 33 " 2.8 55 " 2.4 38 " 1.9 17.5" 0.52
Ba 592 " 21 501 " 23 133 " 9 231 " 12 235 " 12 802 " 42 1906 " 91 253 " 17 210 " 15 246 " 16 252 " 12 93 " 9
Hg 277 " 23 101 " 10 2.41" 0.02 11.0" 0.9 6.82" 0.68 0.30" 0.03 3.07" 0.12 2.09" 0.15 0.27" 0.11 0.22" 0.01 bd bd
Cr 33 " 1.4 57 " 2.2 34 " 1.1 37 " 1.3 48 " 1.4 51 " 2.0 37 " 2.1 49 " 2.6 49 " 1.6 48 " 1.9 41 " 2.0 23 " 0.9
Ag 10.0" 0.9 6.36" 0.14 0.16" 0.01 0.49" 0.03 1.41" 0.04 0.13" 0.01 2.18" 0.21 1.63" 0.12 bd 0.14" 0.01 0.63" 0.03 0.44" 0.02
a
Measured in mgrkg.
Note. bd s Below the detection limit.
A. Chatterjee, R.N. Banerjee r The Science of the Total En¨ ironment 227 (1999) 175]185
 A. Chatterjee, R.N. Banerjee r The Science of the Total En¨ ironment 227 (1999) 175]185 181

Table 2
Concentration of metals in road dust ŽRD., leaf dust ŽLD., leaves ŽL. and sediments samples ŽT1 ]T3 . by ICP-MS Žmgrkg.

Element T1 T2 T3 RD LD L

Fe Ž%. 2.69" 0.11 2.01" 0.15 1.94" 0.07 2.67" 0.16 2.18" 0.17 0.38" 0.01
Rb 102 " 3 74 " 2.2 70 " 3.2 90 " 4 36 " 1.6 36 " 1.9
Sr 33 " 2.0 37 " 4.1 26 " 1.3 35 " 1.3 94 " 3 107 " 4
V 96 " 3 61.1" 3.1 49 " 2.3 77 " 6 46 " 4.2 8.3" 0.41
Mn 451 " 27 391 " 21 516 " 23 619 " 35 820 " 73 141 " 11
Co 16.0" 0.85 11.6" 0.41 120 " 6 15.6" 0.42 9.73" 0.31 1.82" 0.03
Ni 49 " 3.6 34 " 0.7 33 " 1.2 42 " 2.3 38 " 0.5 7.16" 0.61
Cu 56 " 3.0 46 " 0.6 793 " 9 44 " 2.1 269 " 15 40 " 3
Zn 145 " 5 176 " 12 2110 " 25 159 " 6 996 " 44 153 " 14
Mo 0.51" 0.02 0.30" 0.01 9.89" 0.92 0.54" 0.04 3.29" 0.03 2.44" 0.14
Sn 0.49" 0.02 2.21" 0.12 12.7" 0.8 0.75 " 0.09 6.35" 0.72 2.14" 0.17
Pb 539 " 6 719 " 10 18 400 " 210 536 " 39 1030 " 51 214 " 17
As 26 " 1.9 50 " 4.6 2460 " 101 23 " 1.9 7.53" 0.61 2.80" 0.19
Cd 1.83" 0.04 5.81" 0.06 111 " 7 3.12" 0.32 1.78" 0.07 0.47" 0.02
Ba 248 " 7 182 " 8 206 " 21 213 " 11 606 " 22 119 " 9
Hg bd 1.16" 0.12 20 " 2.4 1.95" 0.05 1.72" 0.05 1.17" 0.11
Cr 70 " 3.0 45 " 4.1 38 " 2.5 54 " 3.5 97 " 6 16.6" 0.97

Note. bd s Below detection limit.

normal soil wnormal range for lead in soils is 5]50 ŽChatterjee et al., 1993.x and the upper continen-
mgrkg with an average of approximately 20 tal crust ŽWedepohl, 1995.. Metal concentrations
mgrkg ŽSmall et al., 1995.; arsenic 0.1]40 mgrkg in soils among the houses adjacent to the factory

Table 3
Concentration of metals in standard reference samples by ICP-MS after microwave digestion Žmgrkg.

Montana Soil 2710 BCR No. 144a BCR No 062b

Certified Observed Certified Observed Certified Observed

Al Ž%. 1.2]2.6 1.64" 0.03

Ca Ž%. 0.38]0.48 0.42" 0.01
Mg Ž%. 0.43]0.60 0.53" 0.01
Fe Ž%. 2.2]3.2 2.69" 0.07
Sr 94]110 95 " 6
V 37]50 54 " 7.4
Mn 449 " 13 441 " 35 57.0" 2.4 57.8" 3.5
Co 6.3]12 7.3" 0.43 9.06" 0.60 9.21" 0.11
Ni 8.8]15 12.6" 0.22 942 " 22 895 " 63
Cu 2400]3400 2860 " 37 713 " 26 714 " 12 46.6" 1.8 44.9" 2.9
Zn 5200]6900 6804 " 41 3143 " 103 3296 " 214 16.0" 0.7 18.6" 1.8
Mo 13]27 15.1" 0.9
Pb 4300]7000 4550 " 121 495 " 19 471 " 14 25.0" 1.5 24.6" 3.1
As 490]600 586 " 26
Cd 13]26 19.9" 0.6 4.82" 0.97 4.65" 0.04 0.10" 0.02 0.08" 0.02
Ba 300]400 327 " 31
Hg 27]32 32 " 0.4 1.49" 0.22 1.39" 0.16 0.28" 0.02 0.25" 0.02
Tl 0.50]0.76 0.89" 0.18
Cr 15]23 39 " 5.2
Ag 24]30 24.7" 1.1
a
Trace elements in a sewage sludge.
b
Trace elements in olive leaves Ž Olea europaea..
182 A. Chatterjee, R.N. Banerjee r The Science of the Total En¨ ironment 227 (1999) 175]185

are abnormally elevated. The results of metal
analyses confirmed a high contamination by Pb,
As, Cd, Hg, Ag, Zn, and some other elements
near the smelter and the surrounding area. Soils,
particularly in the houses of the western side of
the factory, are highly contaminated wsoil S1 col-
lected near the west factory wall, approximately
1.5 m away from the stack ŽFigs. 1 and 2. contains
46 700 mg Pbrkg, 9740 mg Asrkg, 204 mg Curkg,
277 mg Hgrkg, 10 mg Agrkg, 34 mg Snrkg, 32
mg Morkg, 10 300 mg Znrkg and 833 mg Cdrkgx.
The concentration of heavy metals in S 2 shows
the same trend as S1. The diffusion patterns of
the elements in all four directions were investi-
gated. The concentration of metals with distance
in each direction has been presented in Table 1.

Fig. 3. Distribution pattern of Pb, As, Cd, Hg, and Zn, with distance in each direction around the lead factory.
 A. Chatterjee, R.N. Banerjee r The Science of the Total En¨ ironment 227 (1999) 175]185
The concentrations of some of the elements Žar-
senic, lead, mercury, cadmium and zinc. in each
direction are also plotted with increasing distance
ŽFig. 3a]d.. There is no trend of regular distribu-
tion of metals concentration with increasing dis-
tance. Indeed, the concentrations of most of the
metals were highest near the smelter and de-
creased immediately beyond the chimney. A dis-
tinct peak in Pb, As, Hg, Ag, Cd, Sn, Mo, Zn and
Cu concentrations ŽTable 1. occurred in the vicin-
ity of the smelter and decreased exponentially
with distance from the smelter. In the west direc-
tion to the factory, Pb, As, Zn, Cu, Hg, Cd, Sn,
Ag and Mo had the highest value near the smelter
of the factory wall Ž; 1.5 m. and then decreased
gradually with increasing distance up to 500 m. In
the south, the metal concentrations ŽCd, As, Hg,
Mo and Zn. decreased gradually with distance,
but Pb remained the same up to 250 m then
decreased with increasing distance. The concen-
tration of Sn, Mo, Ag and Cu increased up to 250
m then decreased gradually up to 500 m. In the
east direction, the Pb, Hg, Sn, Cd, As, Zn, Ag, Mo
and Cu concentrations decreased with increasing
distance. In the north of the factory, Pb, Cd, Sn,
Ag, As, Zn, Mo and Cu concentrations increased
up to 250 m then decreased, but the concentra-
tion of Hg increased with distance. The concen-
trations of metals in the west direction are excep-
tionally high for Pb, As, Cd, Zn, Ag and Hg,
compared to the other three sites.
3.1.2. Sources of contamination
There were significant correlations between the
metals analyzed ŽAs, Sn, Mo, Hg, Cd and Zn have
a distinct positive correlation with lead.. This,
together with the general decrease of the metals
with distance from the smelter, suggests a com-
mon emission source } most probably the
smelter stack } influencing the whole study area.
The very high values of Pb, Zn, As, Hg, Cd, Ag,
and moderately high values of Cu, Mo and Sn
may be caused by relatively high fugitive emis-
sions of these elements andror heavy particulates
from the stack. These appear to be the most
significant sources of the above elements, which
have accumulated in the topsoils in the smelter
area. The smelting operation of the plant is regu-
183
larly carried out from 18.00 h to 06.00 h and the
maximum effluent is released during this time.
Due to the very low chimney height, the lead and
other dust particulates emitted are unable to dif-
fuse over wide angles. In winter the low-level
temperature inversion, with morning fog and
evening mist, also prevents the dispersion of the
dust particulates. The particulates are locally de-
posited in the soil, on the leaves and on roads. So
the soils, road dust, and leaf dust surrounding the
vicinity of the plant and near the chimney are
unusually contaminated ŽTables 1 and 2.. The
other potential sources of metals contamination
in the study area are traffic emissions Žmoderate
to low traffic density during daytime., agricultural
chemicals and solid fuel combustion. The abnor-
mal variation of metal concentrations on the west
side may be due to the chimney stack being
situated on that side, as the wind blows from east
to west round the year, especially in winter when
it blows from the north-west with an average
speed of 25 kmrh, transporting the particulates
ceaselessly from the chimney towards the west.
3.1.3. Water
The 12 water samples Žnine tube-wells and
three ponds. were analyzed for arsenic, lead and
some other parameters to know the water quality
and extent of arsenic and lead contamination in
surface and groundwater. Lead in water was de-
termined by FI-HG-AAS. The EPA standard
procedures were used for determination of other
parameters. Table 4 showed the results. The ar-
senic was only found in pond waters Ž0.05, 0.07
and 13.5 mgrl.. The small pond ŽPond 3. con-
tained a very high concentration of arsenic Ž13.5
mgrl. and its sediment ŽT3 . contained not only
very high concentrations of lead Ž1.8%. and ar-
senic Ž0.25%., but also of other toxic metals ŽTa-
ble 2.. Some of the effluent of the factory Žwaste
water which is highly contaminated with lead,
arsenic and other metals. passes into Pond 3 and
intensifies the metal concentrations in its water
and sediment. Arsenic in other pond waters might
be due to leaching from the contaminated soil by
rainwater. All tubewell waters contain arsenic
and lead at - 10.0 m grl, the WHO recom-
mended value.
184 A. Chatterjee, R.N. Banerjee r The Science of the Total En¨ ironment 227 (1999) 175]185

Table 4 Analysis of associations between metals at each

Results of some physico-chemical parameters in ground
sampling site suggests that a single source, the
waters collected around the lead factory
smelter stack, contaminated the whole study area.
Parameters Range Within the vicinity of the smelter, the high metal
concentrations in soils may be due to fugitive
Salinity 0.15]1.5%
stack emitted particulates from the chimney. From
Conductance 900]2500 m MHO
pH 7.08]10.5 the clinical investigation it was also found that
the children of the study area are more affected
Range of conc. Ž m grml. because part of their normal behavior includes
SO4y2 55]259 hand to mouth contamination through thumb-
Phosphate 0.5]10.0 and finger-sucking activities ŽTsuji and Serl, 1996..
Cly 250]350
Lead does not dissipate or biodegrade, hence
Fe 0.5]100
Na 60]145 high concentrations of lead and other metals in
K 2.6]52.5 soil causes a great risk for the people, particularly
Ca 50]345 the children, of that locality. The stability of lead
As G 0.01 and other metals in soil with such elevated con-
Pb Not detecteda
centrations can persist for many years, even after
As 0.05]13.5b
closure of the source of contamination ŽChatter-
a
Detection limit in FI-HG-AAS is 5 m grl. jee et al., 1993; Small et al., 1995.. In order to
b
Only pond water samples.
save the people of that locality from a potential
hazard the company should build an appropriate
treatment plant and clean up the contaminated
Although the soil, road dust, leaf dust and
soil.
sediments have an elevated level of lead and
arsenic, the tubewell waters Žgroundwater. are Acknowledgements
still free from both. This is in contrast to what we
observed in P. N. Mitra Lane, an arsenic affected The author acknowledged the CSIR Govern-
area contaminated by industrial effluents ŽChat- ment of India wProject No. 9r96Ž271.r95-EMR-1x,
terjee et al., 1993. of a plant manufacturing Paris the Austrian Academic Exchange, Department of
Green; there arsenic could penetrate easily as the Analytical Chemistry, Karl-Franzens University,
soil was permeable. The foremost reason that the Graz, Austria, and the Department of Chemistry,
groundwater in this study is free from arsenic and Jadavpur University, India, for financial support.
lead is that the upper aquifers, which yield the ¨
Help from P.P. Chowdhury, K.J. Irgolic, W. Goes-
groundwater, are overlain by a thick non-permea- sler and S. Roy are gratefully acknowledged.
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