A comparative study on heavy metal concentration in the sediments of Perumallake and Uppanar river of Cuddalore dt, TN - INDIA

The heavy metals are carcinogenic, mutagenic and they are Persistent, Bio-accumulative and Toxic (PBT) move among air, water and soil and cross human boundaries. The mixing of toxic heavy metals into the water bodies deterioratesthe quality of water, sediment and aquatic organisms. It is a threat to the several endemic fish species due to the heavy metal pollution of rivers and lakes. Further, the heavy metals could also pass to human beingsthrough the food chain and create various health hazards. These heavy metals have been discharged into the ecosystems by means of various industrial and other anthropogenic activities. In order to study the industrial pollution, the sediments of Perumal lake and the Uppanar river which were found very close to the industrial area of Cuddalore district of Tamilnadu, India have been chosen to assess the concentration of heavy metals. About 4 sediment samples were totally collected from these two water bodies and analyzed for the heavy metal concentrations. The study revealed that both of the water bodies show theaccumulation of heavy metals like Cr, Cu, Ni, Zn and Co at an alarming rate. There is an urgent need to control the industrial pollution and save the above two water bodies for the welfare of the present and future generations.