Measurement of Heavy Metals Content in Suspended Sediment of Ganges River Using Atomic Absorption Spectrometry

Abstract

This investigation aimed to evaluate the severity of heavy metal concentrations in suspended sediments along a 225 km section of the Ganges River in the eastern part of Uttar Pradesh, India. Metal concentrations were measured via Atomic Absorption Spectrometry, with averages recorded as Fe (50230 µg/g), Mn (1283 µg/g), Cr (201 µg/g), Zn (183 µg/g), Pb (55.1 µg/g), Ni (50.9 µg/g), Cu (42.8 µg/g), and Cd (1.01 µg/g). Zn, Fe, Cr and Pb showed anthropogenic contribution at all selected locations, while anthropogenic inputs of Mn and Ni were also observed at few locations. Risk evaluation was conducted using various pollution indicators. The Contamination Factor (CF) revealed moderate contamination (CF between 1 and 3) by Cr. The Geoaccumulation Index (GI) indicated a stage of uncontaminated to moderate contamination (GI between 0 and 1) for Cr at upstream locations. The values of Enrichment Ratios (ER) indicated minor enrichment (ER between 1 and 3) of Cr at all locations. The Pollution Load Index values ranged from 0.72 to 0.86, suggesting that the selected section is overall uncontaminated. The study highlights significant but localized anthropogenic impacts on heavy metal concentrations, particularly for chromium. While the overall assessment suggests that the suspended sediment in the studied stretch are not heavily contaminated, the elevated concentrations of iron, manganese, chromium, and nickel pose significant ecological risks. The study underscores the need for targeted pollution control measures, especially for metals with high anthropogenic contributions, to ensure the long-term health and safety of this vital water resource.