title: Environmental repercussions of cane-sugar industries on the Chhoti Gandak river basin, Ganga Plain, India.
abstract: Chhoti Gandak river basin, situated in the Ganga Plain, is one of India's most productive cane-sugar industrial belts. Soil and groundwater samples were collected to investigate the impacts of these industries on the environment of the Chhoti Gandak river basin with special reference to soil and water. The results show that concentration of most metals are affected by industrial activities and surrounding agricultural practices. It is evidenced by increased heavy metal concentration in the soils as well as in the aquifers. Metals such as Pb, Cu, and Zn in the soil around the industrial sets are found significantly higher than their normal values in the soil. Metals like Fe and Mn in the groundwater are more than the permissible limit prescribed by the World Health Organization. In this study, an attempt was made to distinguish between the naturally occurring and anthropogenically induced metals in the soil. Analysis of geochemical properties, disposal of industrial wastes, inadequate application of agrochemicals, and their impact on environment indicate the sustainable implementation of integrated wastewater management plan in these industrial sets and also in similar situations.
authors.affiliation: Centre of Advanced Study in Geology, University of Lucknow, Lucknow, 226007, India. vik_bhardwaj0710@rediffmail.com
authors.forename: Vikram
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bhardwaj
authors.forename: Dhruv Sen
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: Abhay K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Singh
mesh_terms: D000383:Agriculture / Q000379:methods; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D007220:Industrial Waste / Q000032:analysis*; D007221:Industry; D007477:Ions / Q000737:chemistry; D008670:Metals / Q000032:analysis; D010945:Plants, Edible; D045483:Rivers / Q000737:chemistry*; D031786:Saccharum; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*; D014881:Water Supply / Q000032:analysis / Q000592:standards
chemical_list: D007220:Industrial Waste; D007477:Ions; D008670:Metals; D012987:Soil; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical