title: Geochemistry and magnetic measurements of suspended sediment in urban sewage water vis-à-vis quantification of heavy metal pollution in Ganga and Yamuna Rivers, India.
abstract: Sewage water is becoming a key source of heavy metal toxicity in large river systems worldwide and the two major Himalayan Rivers in India (Ganga and Yamuna) are severely affected. The high population density in the river banks combined with increased anthropogenic and industrial activities is contributing to the heavy metal pollution in these rivers. Geochemical data shows a significant increase in the concentration of all heavy metals (Pb, 48-86 ppm; Zn, 360-834 ppm; V, 45-101 ppm; Ni, 20-143 ppm; Cr, 79-266 ppm; Co, 8.62-22.12 ppm and Mn, 313-603 ppm) in sewage and mixed water (sewage and river water confluence site) samples due to increased effluent discharge from the catchment area. The ΣREE content of sewage water (129 ppm) is lower than the average mixed water samples (142 ppm). However, all the samples show similar REE pattern. The mass magnetic susceptibility (Xlf) values of suspended sediments (28 to 1000 × 10(-8) m(3) kg(-1)) indicate variable concentration of heavy metals. The Xlf values show faint positive correlation with their respective bulk heavy metal contents in a limited sample population. The present study comprising geochemical analysis and first magnetic measurement data of suspended sediments in water samples shows a strongly polluted nature of Ganga and Yamuna Rivers at Allahabad contrary to the previous report mainly caused by overtly polluted city sewage water.
authors: Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Nehru Science Centre, University of Allahabad, Allahabad, 211 002, India, mchakarvorty@gmail.com.
authors: Munmun
authors: M
authors: Chakarvorty
authors: Akhil Kumar
authors: AK
authors: Dwivedi
authors: Anil Dutt
authors: AD
authors: Shukla
authors: Sujeet
authors: S
authors: Kumar
authors: Ambalika
authors: A
authors: Niyogi
authors: Mavera
authors: M
authors: Usmani
authors: Jayanta Kumar
authors: JK
authors: Pati
mesh_terms: D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000032:analysis*; D007194:India; D008280:Magnetics; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis*; D045483:Rivers / Q000737:chemistry*; D012722:Sewage / Q000032:analysis*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D019216:Metals, Heavy; D012722:Sewage; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical