Assessment of Heavy Metal Presence in Peddacheruvu Freshwater Tank, Vizianagaram: A Comprehensive Study
G. Vijayadurga *
Government Degree College, Gajapathinagaram, India.
U. Shameem
Department of Zoology, Andhra University, Visakhapatnam, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Environmental issues like globalization, urbanization, and industrialization are some of the key factors responsible for escalation in environmental pollution, causing extensive ecological damage and habitat destruction. Heavy metals area distinct groupof non-biodegradable, harmful elements that impose adverse effects on living organisms. These heavy metals when infiltrate aquatic ecosystems through various human activities, they further aggravate the overall environmental degradation.The present investigation deals with heavy metal pollution in water samples collected from Peddacheruvu, a freshwater reservoir situated in the heart of Vizianagaram city. The water body show heightened pollution, primarily originating from the discharge of sewage and drainage throughout the entire municipality. Water samples were collected for a period of one-year from June 2019 to May 2020, and subjected to quantitative testing at a private lab to identify the presence of heavy metals. Analysis of the compiled data revealed the presence of arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), and mercury (Hg) in the water samples, with lead (Pb) emerging as the most abundant heavy metal followed by It may be noted that, the identified heavy metal presence in this freshwater reservoir poses potential threat to both aquatic ecosystems and human health, thereby signifying the urgency to take stepsfor effective environmental management and remediation strategies.
Keywords: Pollutants, heavy metals, arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury