Research Journal of Recent Sciences ________________________________________________ ISSN 2277-2502
Vol. 1 (ISC-2011), 352-353 (2012)
Res.J.Recent Sci.

Short Communication

Heavy Metal Analysis of Water of Kaliasote Dam of Bhopal, MP, India
Choudhary Ranjeeta
Department of Chemistry, Sant Hirdaram Girls College, Bhopal-462023, MP, INDIA

Available online at: www.isca.in
(Received 18th November 2011, revised 9th January 2012, accepted 25th January 2012)

Abstract
Present paper deals with the systematic sampling and quantitative analysis of seven heavy metals viz: Cu, Fe, Hg, Zn, As, Cd
and Pb in the surface water of Kaliasote water reservoir of Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh). This study was carried out in the month
of May 2011. The sampling station is situated near Shiv Mandir which is most polluted site of dam. The results obtained were
compared with safe limits in ppm for heavy metals laid down by BIS, WHO, ICMR. It was found that the concentration of the
heavy metals like Cu, Hg, Zn, As, Cd and Pb were below detectable limits.
Keywords: Heavy metals, quantitative analysis, contamination, Cu, Fe, Hg, Zn, As, Cd and Pb.

Introduction
Heavy metals are metallic elements which have a high
atomic weight and have much high density at least 5 times
that of water. They are stable elements i.e. they cannot be
metabolized by the body and bio-accumulative i.e. passed up
the food chain to humans. They are highly toxic and can
cause damaging effects even at very low concentrations.
Increasing urbanization and industrialization have increased
the levels of trace metals, especially heavy metals, in water
ways. There are over 50 elements that can be classified as
heavy metals, but only 17 that are considered to be both very
toxic and relatively accessible. Mercury, lead, arsenic,
cadmium, selenium, copper, zinc, nickel, and chromium
should be given particular attention in terms of water
pollution. Heavy metal toxicity has severe effect on our
mental health, nervous system, kidneys, lungs and other
organ functions. Surface water bodies get polluted due to
urban sewage discharge1,2,3
Present study is focused on quantitative analysis of heavy
metals of Kaliasote water reservoir (latitude 25° 11' 45' N
and longitude 77° 24' E) which was constructed near Chuna
Bhatti village across the river Kaliasote, a tributary of Betwa
River (Yamuna Basin) in Bhopal (M.P.). The Kaliasote dam
is 1080 m long with maximum height of 34.25 m having
gross storage capacity of 35.387 m. The dam is used for
irrigation as well as recreational purpose.

Material and Methods
Water sample was collected from most polluted site of
Kaliasote dam which is situated near Shiv Mandir in plastic
cans. The heavy metals were preserved by adding 5 ml of 1N
HNO3 in one liter of sample to maintain the pH below 4.0 4.

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The samples were then filtered through Whatmann filter
paper No. 40 and the filtrate was directly used for analysis in
the Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (Perkin Elmer
Analyst 100). At the time of sampling the samples are
acidified as per standard, international method reference
given by APHA5.

Results and Discussion
The analysis of water quality of Kaliasote dam was carried
out for heavy metals viz: Cu, Fe, Hg, Zn, As, Cd and Pb.
These parameters are discussed below:
Iron (Fe): Iron may be present in varying amounts i.e from
0.5 ppm to 100ppm in surface water. Iron was found in the
range of 0.14 ppm to 0.50 ppm which is well within the
permissible limits as prescribed by ICMR6, WHO7 and BIS8
standards. Iron ingestion is not generally unhealthy and is

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Research Journal of Recent Sciences ____________________________________________________________ ISSN 2277-2502
Vol. 1 (ISC-2011), 352-353 (2012)
Res. J. Recent Sci.
absolutely necessary in small amounts. Deficiency of iron in
human body causes anemia.
Mercury (Hg): Mercury has been well known as an
environmental pollutant. Mercury is a liquid metal that is
used in cell batteries, fluorescent lights, switches, and other
control equipment. Excess mercury in water can lead to loss
of muscle control, kidney disease and brain damage. There
are two kinds of mercury. The simple one atom Hg is called
"Inorganic Mercury". The other type of mercury is called
"Organic Mercury”. The Organic mercury is 100 times more
dangerous since it can easily penetrate cell walls and is
easily absorbed in fatty tissues, nerve and brain cells.
Elemental mercury is relatively inert in the gastrointestinal
tract and also poorly absorbed through intact skin, but if
inhaled or injected elemental mercury may have disastrous
effects. Mercury was found below detectable limits in water
of Kaliasote dam.
Arsenic (As): The usual arsenic level in drinking water is
about 0.002 ppm9,10. However, in the present study arsenic
was found below detectable limits in water of Kaliasote dam.
All types of arsenic exposure can cause kidney and liver
damage, and in the most severe exposure there is erythrocyte
hemolysis. During chronic intoxication "garlic breath", skin
sensitivity, dermatitis, and keratitus occurs very frequently.
The acute effect of arsenic poisoning by oral intake are
intense abdominal pairs, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea resulting
from gastro-intestinal tract damage and all terminating in
coma and death11.
Cadmium (Cd): Cadmium is highly toxic because of the
absence of homeostatic control of this metal in the human
body. When excessive amount of cadmium is ingested, it
replaces zinc at key sites and induces metabolic disorder.
Cadmium was found below detectable limits in water of
Kaliasote dam.
Lead (Pb): Lead was found below detectable limits in water
of Kaliasote dam. In most individuals there is a "lead
balance", that is one excretes as much as they take in.
However an increase in the rate of intake will result in
accumulation or a "positive lead balance". Since lead is
chemically very similar to calcium, it is handled by the body
as if it were calcium. Thus the first place to which it is
transported is to the plasma and the membrane sites in soft
tissues. It is then distributed to the other sites where calcium
plays an important role, most notably in the teeth of
developing children and in bone at all ages. Acute toxicity of
Pb in invertebrates are reported at concentration of 0.1-10
mg/l12.
Copper (Cu): Copper is one of the earliest known metals.
ISI8 has prescribed the limit of copper is 0.05 ppm. In the
present study the copper was found below detectable limit.
Copper is essential components of key metalloenzyme that
maintains the vascular and nervous system.

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Conclusion
In the present study iron was found in the range of 0.14 ppm
to 0.50 ppm which is well within the permissible limits as
prescribed by WHO and BIS standards. Concentration of
other metals like Cu, Hg, Zn, As, Cd and Pb was found
below detectable limits. Hence the water of Kaliasote dam is
suitable for drinking and irrigation purposes.

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