Distribution and Migration of Heavy Metals in Peenya Industrial Area, Bangalore, Karnataka, India- A Case Study

Abstract

The present study is aimed to investigate the distribution and migration of the heavy metals in both ground water and soil profile in Peenya Industrial area. The Peenya Industrial area is considered to be one of the largest and oldest Industrial Area in the South-East Asia. Hence in this research work studies are carried out to know the level of heavy metals in ground-water, and soil profile, degree of pollution due to Industrial activities and water quality index of the study area. In this study a total number of 42 ground water samples were collected from different locations of Peenya Industrial Area and analyzed for various Physical and Chemical properties such as pH, Alkalinity, Chloride, Calcium, Magnesium, Total dissolved solids, Total hardness and Nitrate in the Laboratory using analytical methods. The concentration of heavy metals viz. Iron, Chromium, Nickel, Copper, Cadmium and Lead were analyzed using AAS (Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer).Water quality of the study area is determined using a tool known as Water Quality Index (WQI). The WQI for the study area ranges from 35.29-7787.40. The high values of WQI is  due to high values of Chromium, Nickel, Cadmium, Iron, Lead, TDS, TH, Calcium, Magnesium, Nitrate, Chloride, and Alkalinity. The total numbers of 24 Soil samples were collected to investigate both distribution and migration of heavy metals in soil profile. The concentration of heavy metals viz. Iron, Chromium, Nickel, Copper, Cadmium and Lead in soil were analyzed by Mehlich-I extraction method and determined using AAS. The present analysis reveals that ground-water and soil of the study area needs some degree of treatment and should be protected from future contamination.