Arti Yadav and Pawan Kumar Yadav
The heavy metal concentrations in the environment are due to primarily natural and anthropogenic activities, and because the heavy metals are very persistent pollutants, they get accumulated in the water, soil and plants, finally entering in the food chain. This paper assess the quality of wastewater and contamination of heavy metals like Fe, Cd, Pb, Zn and Cu from these selected drains discharging effluent in the river Ganga at Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh during 2012-2013. The heavy metals Fe, Cd, Pb, Zn and Cu were concentration estimated by using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. The presence of heavy metals were observed in all sites throughout the year, summer season recorded maximum concentration of Fe (0.498 mg/l), Zn (0.095 mg/l), Cu (0.009 mg/l), Pb (0.007 mg/l) and Cd (0.006 mg/l) in Mori gate drain, Fe (0.257 mg/l), Zn (0.056 mg/l), Pb (0.042 mg/l), Cd (0.036 mg/l) and Cu (0.019 mg/l) in Mawaiya drain and Fe (0.494 mg/l), Zn (0.093 mg/l), Cd (0.006 mg/l), Cu (0.008 mg/l) and Pb (0.005 mg/l) in Bairagiya drain respectively. Maximum level of heavy metal contamination was observed in Mori gate drain as compared to Mawaiya drain and Bairagiya drain. The presence of heavy metal in our environment shows the great concern because of their toxicity when their concentrations are more than possible level.
