International E-publication: Publish Projects, Dissertation, Theses, Books, Souvenir, Conference Proceeding with ISBN.  International E-Bulletin: Information/News regarding: Academics and Research

The ritual of idol immersion and the aquatic environment surrounding us: a study of water quality and it’s inhabitants of the Ganga River and Immersion Pond in Kolkata, India

    ,

Author Affiliations

  • 1Department of Laboratory Medicine, North City Diagnostic Centre, Kolkata, India
  • 2Dept. of Biochemistry, KPC Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata, West Bengal, India

Int. Res. J. Environment Sci., Volume 6, Issue (12), Pages 9-13, December,22 (2017)

Abstract

The aquatic environment, controlling the state of health of fishes, is severely affected by common toxic pollutants like Lead (Pb) in surface water. During certain festivals, idols are immersed in Ganga or nearby ponds and lakes, with a rough estimation of around 950 idols in the Ganga from Babughat alone and about 200 in the New Town Immersion pond in Kolkata, India. Chemical paints used on the idols contain high amount of Lead, leading to alteration in the water quality, pH, temperature and total dissolved solid (TDS) load. Yellow, red, orange and white pigments contain the most amount of Pb, and are toxic even in very small quantity, entering the human system through food chain, and bioaccumulate and biomagnify. In this study, the water quality of Ganga river and Immersion pond in New Town, Kolkata are measured during Pre-immersion, Immersion and Post-immersion phases, and the risk assessment of the health effects on fish consumption from these areas are attempted. Water and fish samples are measured, from the immersion pond of New Town, Kolkata, and Babughat, Ganga river bank, for Pb content, and water temperature, turbidity and conductivity, during pre-immersion, immersion and post-immersion phases. Pb content in the water, which was high to begin with, raised severely beyond permissible limits during immersion phase and continued to remain so during post immersion phase. The Pb content in the organs of Tilapia fish from the Immersion pond showed Pb content beyond permissible limits in post immersion phase. A significant increase in temperature is noted in both sites during immersion, affecting the aquatic life. The pH becomes acidic during immersion phase, resulting in faster heavy metal release rate and producing leaching. Electrical conductivity shoots up way beyond permissible limits, producing harmful gases. Turbidity too was severely increased during immersion phase, reducing photosynthesis by aquatic plants.

References

  1. Abdul Baki A.S., Dkhil M.A. and AL-Quraishy S. (2011)., Bioaccumulation of some heavy metals in Tilapia fish relevant to their concentration in water and sediment of Wadi Hamifah, Saudi Arabia., Afr J Biol., 10(13), 2541-2547.
  2. Farkas A., Salanki J. and Specziar A. (2003)., Age-size specific patterns of heavy metals in the organs of fresh water fish Abramis brama populating a low contaminated site., Water Res., 37(5), 959-964.
  3. APHA (1995)., Standard Methods of Examination of Water and waste water: American Public Health Association., Washington DC, 19th Ed.
  4. USDA (2008)., United States Department of Agriculture., National Institute of Food and Agriculture.
  5. Ghanthimathi S., Aminah A., Salmijah S., Ujang T. and Nurul Izzah A. (2012)., Comparison of microwave assisted acid digestion methods for ICP-MS determination of total arsenic in fish tissue., Sains Malaysiana, 41(12), 1557-1564.
  6. ICMR (1975)., Manual of Standards of Quality of Drinking water Supplies., Special report Series No. 44, 2nd Ed.
  7. SAS Inst Inc. SAS Version 6.12. Cary. SAS Inst 1996., undefined, undefined
  8. World Medical Assembly (1996)., Declaration of Helsinki., Amended by, Venice, Haly 1964 and 1983. BMJ, 3/3(70), 1448-1449.
  9. Ahipathi M.V. and Puttaiah E.T. (2006)., Ecological Characteristics of Varishabhavati River in Bangalore (India)., ENV. Geology, 49, 1271-1322.
  10. Jayalakshmi D.O. and Belagali S.L. (2005)., Water quality Assessment from different districts in Southern Karnatake., Nat. and Env Poll. Tech., 4(4), 589-596.
  11. Malik G.M., Raval V.H., Zadafiya S.k. and Patel A.V. (2010)., Idol immersion and Physico-chemical properties of South Gujarat Rivers., Current World Env., 5(1), 173-176.
  12. Sripathy L., Harish R.M., Renuka C. and Thuppil V. (2012)., Consequence of Ganesh Idol immersion on physic-chemical properties of Lakes situated in Bangalore North and West., Int J Innovative Res. Sc. Engg. Tech., 1 (1), 113-120.
  13. Mehta P. (2013)., Alteration in Water Quality Parameters and Consequential Impacts due to festival water in Jodhpur., The Experiment, 17(1), 1166-1176.
  14. Wetzel R.G. (2001)., Limnology: Lake and River Ecosystems (3rd ed.)., San Diego, CA: Academic Press.
  15. Lloyd D.S., Koerings J.P. and Laperriere J.D. (2011)., Effects of Turbidity in Freshwaters of Alaska., North American J Fisheries Mgmt., 7(1), 18-33.
  16. Dhote S., Varghese B., Mishra S.M. (2001)., Impact of Idol Immersion on Water Quality of Twin lakes of Bhopal., Int j Env. Protection, 21(11), 998-1005.
  17. Goswami s. and Pradhan S. (2009)., Immersion of Images: A Tragedy of Pollution., Everyman’s Science, 43(6), 364-367.
  18. Phadnis S.D., Chandagade C.A., jadhav V.V. and Rant P.D. (2013)., Impact of Color Pigments on Biochemical Parameters of bivalve lamellidens marginalis., J Env. Biol., 34(2), 267.
  19. Goswami k. and Mazumdar I. (2016)., How idol Immersion is polluting the Ganga River in Kolkata, West Bengal: An Overview., Ind J Applied Res., 6(10), 460-462.
  20. Nnaji J.C., Uzairu A., Harrison G.F.S. and Balorabe M.L. (2007)., Evaluation of Calcium, Chromium, Copper, Lead, and Zinc Concentrations in the Fish head/ viscera of Oreochromis niloticus and Synodontis schall of River Galma, Zaria, Nigeria., J Env Agri and Food Chem., 6 (10), 2420-2426.
  21. FAO/WHO (1999)., Expert Committee on Food Additives., Summary and Conclusion, 53rd meeting, Rome.