scholarly journals Heavy Metals in the Environment and Health Impact

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Myriam El Ati-Hellal ◽  
Fayçal Hellal

Heavy metals are among the most harmful contaminants in the ecosystems due to their persistency, bioaccumulation and high toxicity. In this chapter, we presented the sources, distribution and pathways of heavy metals in soil, water and air. The physico-chemical properties, uses, toxicity and health hazards of the purely toxic heavy metals lead, cadmium and mercury were also described. Other essential heavy metals were briefly presented and the main health effects due to their deficiency or excess were displayed in this chapter. Finally, the various methods used for the removal of heavy metals from soil and aquatic environments were discussed with a focus on nanomaterials.

Author(s):  
P.U. Singare ◽  
S.S. Dhabarde

The paper deals with monitoring of pollution arising due to agrochemicals and pesticides manufacturing industries located along the Dombivali industrial belt of Mumbai, India. The study was carried for the period of one year from June, 2012 to May, 2013 to study the level of toxic heavy metals and the physico-chemical properties of waste water effluents discharged from the above industries. The average concentration of Cu, Ni, Cr, Pb and Zn was found to be maximum of 29.86, 0.90, 1.16 and 1.19 ppm respectively in summer season, while average Fe concentration was maximum of 51.10 ppm in winter season. The average pH value of the effluent was found to be maximum of 12.95 in summer season, while average conductivity value was maximum of 21085 µmhos/cm in rainy season. The majority of physco-chemical parameters like alkalinity, hardness, salinity, chloride, cyanide, phosphate, total solid, BOD and COD content were found to be maximum in summer season having the average values of 1918, 186, 4, 11.20, 0.07, 81, 6391, 685 and 2556 ppm respectively. The average DO content was found to be low of 4.5 ppm in winter season. It was observed that the concentration level of majority of the toxic heavy metals and physico-chemical properties were above the tolerable limit set for inland surface water. The results of present study indicates that the existing situation if mishandled can cause irreparable ecological harm in the long term well masked by short term economic prosperity due to extensive industrial growth


Author(s):  
P.U. Singare ◽  
S.S. Dhabarde

The paper deals with monitoring of pollution arising due to pharmaceutical based industries located along the Dombivali industrial belt of Mumbai, India. The study was carried for the period of one year from June, 2012 to May, 2013 to study the level of toxic heavy metals and the physico-chemical properties of waste water effluents discharged from the above industries. The concentration level of majority of toxic heavy metals like Cu, Cr, Pb, Fe and Zn were found to be maximum of 14.06, 0.57, 0.42, 18.93 and 3.31 ppm respectively in the month of February, while Ni concentration was found to be maximum of 0.43 ppm in the month of June. The pH and BOD values were reported to be maximum of 12.54 and 546 ppm respectively in the month of October. The conductivity and total solid content was found to be maximum of 27400 µmhos/cm and 9401 ppm respectively in the month of June. The cyanide content was maximum of 0.13 ppm in the month of April. The alkalinity, hardness, salinity, chloride, phosphate and COD content was reported maximum of 852, 694, 10.36, 4821, 46.32 and 1271 ppm respectively in the month of February. The DO content was found to be minimum of 3.00 ppm in the month of February. It was observed that the level of many of these toxic heavy metals except Zn and various physico-chemical parameters were above the tolerable limit set for inland surface water. From the results of the present investigation it seems that the time has come to move towards ecosystem specific discharge standards to maintain the health and productivity of natural resources on which the majority of Indians are dependent


Author(s):  
P.U. Singare ◽  
S.S. Dhabarde

The paper deals with monitoring of pollution arising due to textile based industries located along the Dombivali industrial belt of Mumbai, India. The study was carried for the period of one year from June, 2012 to May, 2013 to study the level of toxic heavy metals and the physico-chemical properties of waste water effluents discharged from the above industries. The concentration level of majority of toxic heavy metals like Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn were reported to be maximum of 45.58, 2.00, 2.06 and 9.20 ppm respectively in the month of April, while Cr and Fe concentration levels were found to be 2.50 and 55.30 ppm in the month of March. The effluent samples collected in the month of July was reported to show high BOD content of 564 ppm, while COD content was maximum of 2436 ppm in the month of October. The effluent samples collected in the month of January was having very low DO content of 3.21 ppm and high cyanide content of 0.09 ppm. The alkalinity, hardness and chloride content were maximum of 2158, 198 and 2765 ppm respectively in the effluent samples collected in the month of February. The effluents were having high total solid content of 8269 ppm during the month of April, while the salinity and phosphate contents were reported high of 5.64 and 125.70 ppm during the month of May. It was observed that the concentration level of majority of toxic heavy metals and the values of various physico-chemical parameters were above the tolerable limit set for inland surface water. The present experimental data on environmental risk assessment studies due to textile industries may be regarded as an aid towards a better understanding of the problem arising due to such industries. There is a need to convey the message that prevention of adverse health effects and promotion of health are profitable investments for employers and employees as a support to a sustainable development of economics.


Author(s):  
P.U. Singare ◽  
S.S. Dhabarde

The paper deals with monitoring of pollution arising due to oil and surfactants manufacturing industries located along the Dombivali industrial belt of Mumbai, India. The study was carried for the period of one year from June, 2012 to May, 2013 to study the level of toxic heavy metals and the physico-chemical properties of waste water effluents discharged from the above industries. The maximum concentration of majority of heavy metals like Cu, Ni, Cr, Pb and Fe were recorded as 13.48, 3.90, 13.30, 1.75 and 15.89 ppm respectively, which were above the tolerable limit set for inland surface water. The maximum pH and conductivity values of the industrial waste water effluent were recorded as 10.05 and 27800 µmhos/cm respectively. The majority of physico-chemical parameters like chloride, cyanide, phosphate and total solid content were found to be maximum in the month of March having the respective values of 2340, 0.09, 3 5.2 and 8755 ppm. The effluent samples collected in the month of May was found to have low DO content of 3.33 ppm and high BOD content of 643 ppm. The alkalinity and COD values were reported to be maximum of 1988 and 4410 ppm respectively in the month of February. The hardness and salinity content was reported maximum of 131 and 5.76 ppm during the month of December and June respectively. The results of present research work indicates that time has come to move towards ecosystem specific discharge standards to maintain the health and productivity of natural resources on which the majority of Indians are dependent


2013 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 239-247

The removal of heavy metals from wastewaters is a matter of paramount importance due to the fact that their high toxicity causes major environmental pollution problems. One of the most efficient, applicable and low cost methods for the removal of toxic metals from aqueous solutions is that of their adsorption on an inorganic adsorbent. In order to achieve high efficiency, it is important to understand the influence of the solution parameters on the extent of the adsorption, as well as the kinetics of the adsorption. In the present work, the adsorption of Cu(II) species onto TiO2 surface was studied. It was found that the adsorption is a rapid process and it is not affected by the value of ionic strength. In addition, it was found that by increasing the pH, the adsorbed amount of Cu2+ ions and the value of the adsorption constant increase, whereas the value of the lateral interaction energy decreases.


Author(s):  
CT Nelson ◽  
GT Amangabara ◽  
CO Owuama ◽  
CN Nzeh ◽  
CN Uyo

Open dumpsite is the most common way to eliminate solid urban wastes in this part of the world. An important problem associated to landfills and open dumpsite is the production of leachates. The leachates from these dumpsites have many toxic substances, which may adversely affect the environmental health. Thus in order to have a better management of characteristics of Ihiagwa-Nekede waste dump leachates, representative leachate samples were collected and analyzed for Physico-chemical properties and levels of heavy metals in them. Results indicate pH7.38, temperature 28.30 ℃ - 28.40℃, total dissolved solid 124.01mg/l-125.45mg/l, magnesium hardness 4.40mg/l-7.32mg/l, sulphate 3.60mg/l-3.70mg/l, and nitrate 27.00mg/l-27.60mg/l. Other parameters indicated as follows Conductivity1910𝜇𝑠/𝑐𝑚-1930.00 𝜇𝑠/𝑐𝑚, total chloride 891.72mg/l-891.74mg/l, carbonate 1708.00mg/l-1904.00mg/l, Ammonia 9.39mg/l-9.40mg/l, calcium hardness 373.17mg/l-375.61mg/l, total solid 2423.00mg/l-2454.00mg/l, phosphate 13.52mg/l-13.54mg/l. The heavy metal: cyanide 2.25mg/l-2.33mg/l, zinc 18.08mg/l-18.38mg/l, copper 19.90mg/l20.48mg/l, iron10.67mg/l-10.82mg/l, lead 1.27mg/l-1.41mg/l, and manganese 3.00mg/l-3.61mg/l, all these exceeded the WHO standards. The obtained results showed that the landfill leachates are characterized by high concentrations of heavy metals and other disease causing elements and therefore require urgent treatment to forestall the contamination of groundwater system and the nearby Otamiri River.


2003 ◽  
Vol 49 (2) ◽  
pp. 163-170 ◽  
Author(s):  
A Mitra ◽  
P Bhattacharyya ◽  
K Chakrabarti ◽  
DJ Chattopadhyay ◽  
A Chakraborty

Author(s):  
Affonso C. Gonçalves Junior ◽  
Ana P. Meneghel ◽  
Fernanda Rubio ◽  
Leonardo Strey ◽  
Douglas C. Dragunski ◽  
...  

This study evaluated the efficacy of moringa seeds (Moringa oleifera Lam.) as an adsorbent material for removing toxic heavy metals such as cadmium, lead, and chromium from contaminated solutions. The effect of the adsorbent mass was investigated at two pH conditions (5.0 and 7.0). The optimized conditions were 0.300 g of adsorbent at pH 5.0, used for the isotherms construction, and linearized according to Langmuir and Freundlich models. Results showed that cadmium adsorption was similar in both the models used. For lead, the Freundlich model had the best adjustment and chromium was better adjusted by the Langmuir model. It was concluded that the adsorbent was effective in the remediation of solutions containing cadmium, lead and chromium, thus, its use as sustainable alternative material is feasible, since it has low cost, does not need a previous treatment and it is a byproduct.


2017 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 30-40 ◽  
Author(s):  
Satveer Singh ◽  
Sartaj A. Bhat ◽  
Jaswinder Singh ◽  
Rajinder Kaur ◽  
Adarsh P. Vig

Aims and Objectives:The present study was conducted to utilize the Milk Processing Industry Sludge (MPIS) for the purpose of vermicomposting, in two sets of experimentsviz. with earthworms (ME) and without earthworms (MW).Methods and Materials:Twenty young non-clitellatedEisenia fetidawere released in each tray. The various parameters like growth, clitellum development, biomass, cocoon production and hatchlings ofE. fetidawere observed after every 15 days, during 90 days of vermicomposting.Results:The maximum growth and better responses were observed in ME25mixtures of MPIS which was the minimum ratio of the waste to CD. The physico-chemical analysis (pH, EC, TKN, TOC, C/N ratio, TAP, TK, TNa) and heavy metals (Cr, Cu, Mn, Pb) were also done before and after vermicomposting process. There was a significant increase in TKN (23-46%), and TAP (39-47%), and a decrease in pH (6.2-6.8%), EC (24.6-37.2%), TOC (16.8-37.9%), C/N ratio (23.8-97.9%), TK (26.6-40.6%), and TNa (31.3-53%) and heavy metals (Cr 30.9-40.6%, Cu 32.7-44.6%, Mn 23.9-36.3%, and Pb 32.6-42.9%) from initial to final feed mixtures with earthworms.Conclusion:Thus the final vermicompost had excellent physico-chemical properties with all nutrients in plant available forms. The study further strengthens that the vermicomposting is an efficient technique in converting MPIS into nutrient rich biomanure in a short period of timei.e. 90 days.


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