Poll Res.

29 (4) : 583-587 (2010)

Copyright © EM International

HEAVY METALS CONTAMINATION IN WASTE-WATER

IRRIGATED AGRICULTURAL SOIL NEAR BINDAL RIVER,
DEHRADUN, INDIA

CHAKRESH PATHAK, A.K. CHOPRA*, VINOD KUMAR AND SACHIN SRIVASTAVA

Department of Zoology and Environmental Science, Gurukula Kangri University, Haridwar,
Uttarakhand 249 404.

ABSTRACT
The present study has brought out that the wastewater irrigation increased the amount of heavy
metals such as Zn, Pb, Ni, Cu, Cr, Cd and Hg in the agricultural soils near Bindal river,
Dehradun. Among the seven metals, the per cent concentration in wastewater irrigated soil was
in the order of Zn (48%)>Pb (20%)>Ni (13%)=Cu (13%)>Cr (5%)>Cd (1%). The statistical analysis
showed that the concentrations of Zn, Cd and Cr were found to be significantly (P<0.05) more
while the concentrations of Pb, Cu and Ni were insignificantly (P>0.05) higher in wastewater
irrigated soil than that in natural water irrigated soil. The Hg was below detection limit. The
concentration of metals present in soil was below the maximum permissible limits of Indian
standards. However, the levels of the metals except the Pb were more than the permissible limit
of ICRCL. The contamination of these trace elements in soil may cause significant health risks,
if they enter human food chain.

KEY WORDS: Heavy metals, Sewage, Soil, Contamination

INTRODUCTION toxicity (Chary et al., 2008).

The use of industrial or municipal wastewater is a
common practice in suburban areas of many parts of
the world (Uri et al., 1986 and Feign et al., 1991),
including India (Singh et al., 2004). Other sources of
heavy metal contamination associated with
agricultural soil are sewage sludge, fertilizers and
pesticides (Abd El-Hady, 2007). The concentration of
heavy metals in soils is influenced by variation in
their texture, composition, reduction/oxidation
reactions, adsorption / desorption, and physical
transport or sorting in addition to anthropogenic
metal input (Ahumada et al., 1999; Adriano, 1999 ;
and Howari and Banat, 2001).
Wastewater irrigation is known to contribute
significantly to the heavy metal content of soils
(Nyamangara and Mzezewa, 1999, Nan et al., 2002,
Mapanda et al., 2005).The heavy metals may also
accumulate in the soil at toxic levels as a result of
long-term application of untreated wastewaters.
They are considered as soil contaminants due to
their widespread occurrence, acute and chronic
Thus, the contamination of agricultural soils with
heavy metals has always been considered a critical
challenge in scientific community. Due to their
cumulative behavior and toxicity, they have a
potential hazardous effect not only on crop plants
but also on human health. The aim of this study was
to evaluate the potential risk of pollution in the
agricultural soil which is being irrigated from
wastewater near Bindal river in District Dehradun,
India.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Study Area: The study was conducted for a period
of three months between April to June, 2008. In this
study two sampling sites were selected- i)
Experimental site- Wastewater irrigated agricultural
soil, near Bindal river Haridwar bypass road and
Control site -Natural water irrigated agricultural
soil, Guler ghati in District Dehradun.
Sampling: The soil samples were collected
fortnightly from three different places of each site

Corresponding author : *E-mail: profakchopra@yahoo.co.in; Phone : 911334244095

584 PATHAK ET AL
separately with the help of Auger. Every time 500 g
soil was collected from a depth a 0-15 cm from each
place of the site and placed in a clean polythene bag
and brought to the laboratory for analysis.
Analysis of metals: The soil samples were dried in
air at room temperature and sieved through 2 mm
sieve. Samples were digested in di acid as per the
method described in AOAC (1990). 0.5 gm of
sample of each sample was taken in digestion tube
and 10 mL nitric acid (HNO3) and 5 mL perchloric
acid (HCLO 4) were added. The digestions were
completed on digestion block (Make-Foss) following
standard procedures as described by Chaturvedi
and Sankar (2006). After digestion all samples were
filtered through Whatmann No. 42 filter paper and
in each case volume was made to 50 mL. Heavy
metals such as Lead (Pb), Zinc (Zn), Copper (Cu),
Nickel (Ni), Chromium (Cr), Cadmium (Cd) and
Mercury (Hg) were determined in the digested
aliquot by Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer
(AAS) (Make – Perkin Elmer, model analyst 700)
using specific lamp of particular metal using
appropriate drift blank.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
The concentration (Mean±S.D.) of heavy metals
(mg/kg dry soil) in soils of wastewater and natural
irrigated agricultural land, and % increase of metals
in waste water irrigated soil are given in Tables 1
and 2 respectively. The percent concentration of
heavy metals viz. Zn, Pb, Ni, Cu, Cr and Cd in the
wastewater and natural water irrigated soil at
Dehradun are shown in Fig. 1.
In India, the use of sewage effluents for irrigating
agricultural lands is on the rise especially in the peri-
(A) Natural water irrigated soil
Fig. 1(A & B). Percent Concentration of Zn, Ni, Cu, Pb, Cr and Cd among the total metallic concentration observed.
urban areas. Although the concentration of heavy
metals in sewage effluents are low, in many cases
these are contaminated with industrial wastes and
long-term use of these wastewaters often results in
the build-up of the elevated levels of these metals in
soils (Rattan et al., 2002). Yadav et al. (2002) has
reported that surface soils are better indicators of
metallic burdens. The frequent use of this type of
heavy metal contaminated water in agricultural
fields leads to soil pollution and gradually the soil
becomes enriched with heavy metals. Nyangababo
and Hamya (1986) have indicated that the total
content of heavy metals in the soils was restricted to
the top 15 cm.
Amusan et al. (2005) found that values of Zn
concentrations were 63.20 microgram/g in Bode-Osi
(rural community) and 102.11 microgram/g in
municipal waste dump sites soils of Nigeria. Karatas
et al. (2006) determined that the sewage of the main
discharge channel of Konya used for irrigation
caused the heavy metal concentration to increase in
the soils. The sewage application increased the
amount of heavy metals such as Zn, Cu, Mn, Cr, Ni,
Pb, and Cd in the soil. Mishra and Tirpathi (2008)
observed that the concentration of Zn was
122.3±17.9 mg/kg in irrigated with treated waste
water soils of Varanasi. During the present study, the
concentration of Zn was 74.16±17.86 mg/Kg soil in
natural water irrigated soil that increased by 185.14
% in experimental wastewater irrigated soil.
Boon and Soltanpour (1992), Lee et al. (1997) and
Li and Wu (1999) observed that heavy metals
including Pb tend to accumulate in the clay fraction
of the soil profile. Strong ionic bonds are formed
between the cation and the clay particle. Karatas et
al., (2006) determined the Pb concentration in the
(B) Wastewater irrigated soil
 HEAVY METALS CONTAMINATION IN WASTE-WATER IRRIGATED AGRICULTURAL 585

soil samples irrigated with wastewater through out
the main discharge channel of Konya, 8 mg/kg and
16mg/kg in the month of June, pump 2 and 3
respectively. Abd El-Hady (2007) found that values
of extractable Pb concentration in polluted river
water irrigated soil samples from Egypt were 7.95
ppm at site I and 23.2 ppm at site II. Mishra and
Tirpathi (2008) observed that the concentration of Pb
(123.5±18.4 mg/kg) was quite higher in the soil
irrigated with treated waste water at Varanasi. In the
present study, the concentration of lead present in
natural water irrigated soil (30.02±17.37) was
observed to increase by +187.84 (%) in waste water
irrigated soil.
Amusan et al. (2005) found that values of Cu
concentrations were 36.5 microgram/gram in Bode-
Osi (rural community) and 72.99 microgram/g in
municipal waste dump sites soils of Nigeria, and
that in crops growing in the dump sites bio-
accumulated considerably higher metal contents
than those in normal agricultural soils. In the present
study, the concentration of Copper was found to be
31.78±8.31 in natural water irrigated soil that
increased to 80.11% in waste water irrigated soil.
Aydinalp and Marinova (2003) recorded average
Ni concentration of 157.8 mg/kg in agricultural
soils, Bursa (Turkey). Abd El-hady. (2007) found that
the extractable Ni concentration in polluted river
water irrigated soil from Egypt, 14.1 ppm site I and
14.6 ppm site II. The present study recorded 41.52
mg/kg Nickel concentration natural irrigated soil
which was increased to 42.19% at experimental site.
Karatas et al. (2006) determined Cr concentrations
of 22 mg/kg and 32 mg/kg in wastewater irrigated
soil with pump 2 and 3 respectively at Konya
(Turkey). Aydinalp and Marinova (2003) recorded

Table 1. Heavy metals concentrations (mean ± SD) in wastewater and natural water irrigated soil of Dehradun city.
Heavy metals Control site (natural Experimental site Limits(a) Limits (b).
water irrigated) (wastewater irrigated) (mg/kg) (mg/kg)
(mg/kg) (mg/kg)
Zn 74.16 ± 17.86 211.96 ± 19.77 300-600 25
Pb 30.02 ± 17.37 86.41 ± 36.37 250-500 50
Ni 41.52 ± 13.60 59.09 ± 42.54 75-150 20
Cu 31.78 ± 8.31 57.24 ± 13.88 135-270 10
Cr 7.82 ± 0.92 21.21 ± 1.45 - -
Cd 3.11 ± 1.24 6.50 ± 0.66 - -
Hg BDL - - -
Limits -a- Permissible limits of Indian standards Awasthi (2000).
Limits-b- Mean of heavy metal limits in soil used for agriculture and recreation recommended by Interdepartmental
Committee for Redevelopment of Contaminated Land (ICRCL).

Table 2. Descriptive statistical data for soil analysis.

Sampling point Parameters Min. Max. Aver. Stand.dev. Percentage (%)
Natural water Irrigated soil Zn 55.62 91.25 74.16 ±17.86 -
Pb 15.46 49.25 30.02 ±17.37 -
Ni 26.35 52.65 41.52 ± 13.60 -
Cu 25.58 41.23 31.78 ±8.31 -
Cr 6.78 8.56 7.82 ±0.92 -
Cd 1.69 3.98 3.11 ±1.24 -
Hg BDL BDL BDL BDL -
Wastewater Irrigated soil Zn 190.12 228.65 211.96 ±19.77 +185.14 (%)
Pb 50.58 123.31 86.41 ±36.37 +187.84 (%)
Ni 13.75 98.15 59.09 ±42.54 +42.19(%)
Cu 45.58 72.56 57.24 ±13.88 +80.11(%)
Cr 19.82 22.73 21.21 ±1.46 +171.22(%)
Cd 5.76 7.05 6.50 ±0.67 +109(%)
Hg BDL BDL BDL BDL -
Percentage increase/decrease at wastewater in comparison to control site.
BDL-Below detection limit.
586 PATHAK ET AL

average Cr concentration of 124.5 gm/kg in Table 3. Results of paired two sample t-test for means
agricultural soils, Bursa (Turkey). During present between Zn, Pb, Cu, Ni, Cr and Cd.
study, the concentration of Cr was 7.82±0.93 mg/kg Data paired t-statistics t-critical p
in natural water irrigated soil that increased by
Zn 10.15489 2.919986 <0.05
171.22% in waste water irrigated soil.
Pb 2.713788398 2.91998558 >0.05
Amusan et al. (2005) found that values of Cd
Ni 0.711986 2.919986 >0.05
concentrations were 17 microgram/gram in Bode- Cu 2.070107 2.919986 >0.05
Osi (rural community) and 47.06 microgram/gram Cr 34.10377437 2.91998558 <0.05
in municipal waste dump sites soils of Nigeria. Cd 3.231601713 2.91998558 <0.05
Karatas et al. (2006) determined Cd concentrations of
0.20 mg/kg and 0.43 mg/kg in wastewater irrigated irrigated soils is alarming. The accumulation of the
soil of Konya (Turkey) in June month, pump 2 and 3 metals may also occur in the edible portion of the
respectively. In present investigation, the important crops like radish, carrot, onion, spinach
concentration of Cadmium was found to be raei etc. being grown in the areas near Bindal River,
3.11±1.24 in natural water irrigated soil that Dehradun.
increased to 109% in waste water irrigated soil.
In the present study, the Hg concentrations were CONCLUSION
found to be below detection limits in all soil samples
of waste water and natural water irrigated soil. The study concluded that concentration of Zn was
The present study observed that among the total higher and that of Cr was minimum in both natural
% concentration of the metals, the % concentration and waste water irrigated soils in Dehradun. The
of metals was in the order of Zn>Ni>Cu>Pb>Cr>Cd concentration of Zn, Cd and Cr increased
in natural water irrigated soil (0-15 cm) while the % significantly in waste water irrigated soil near
concentration was in the order of Zn> Pb> Cu= Ni> Bindal river. However, the increase in the
Cr>Cd in waste water irrigated soil. In both the concentration of Pb, Cu, and Ni was insignificant.
types of soils, the % concentration of Zn was more The increase of these trace elements in waste water
and that of cadmium the lowest (Fig. 1). The irrigated soil is alarming. The accumulation of the
concentrations of the metals measured in soils were metals may also occur in agricultural crop being
below the maximum limited permitted by Indian grown in the areas, and may cause health risks by
standards. However, the levels of the metals except entering into the human food chain.
Pb were more than the permissible limit of ICRCL.
Hg was below the detection limit (Table 1). ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The descriptive statistical analysis (Table 2 and 3)
revealed that the concentrations of Pb, Cu and Ni The authors are thankful to The Head, Department
were insignificantly (P>0.05) higher in wastewater of Zoology and Environmental Science, Gurukula
irrigated soil than that observed in natural water kangri University, Haridwar for providing necessary
irrigated soil. But the Zn, Cr and Cd concentration facilities to carry out the research work.
was significantly (P<0.05) more in wastewater
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