Distribution of trace metals in the Hindon River system, India

The distribution of trace metals (Cu, Zn, Fe, Mn, Cd, Cr, Pb, and Ni) in water, suspended and bed sediments of the River Hindon, a highly polluted river in western Uttar Pradesh (India) has been studied. The river is polluted by municipal, industrial and agricultural effluents, and flows through the city of Saharanpur, Muzaffarnagar and Ghaziabad districts. The heavy metal concentrations in water were observed to depend largely on the amount of flowing water and are negatively correlated with flow. Sediment analysis indicates that the large amount of heavy metals is associated with organic matter, the fine-grained sediment fraction and Fe/Mn hydrous oxides. A high positive correlation of most of the metal ions in sediments with iron, manganese and organic matter indicate that these constituents play a major role in transport of metal ions. The heavy metal concentrations generally increased with the decreasing particle size of the sediments. Lower metal concentrations in bed sediments during post-monsoon season established that monsoon had a slight effect on status of metals in sediments by causing renewal and mobilization of metals from the sediments.