V. Arun^1,4, T.M. Vishnu Maya¹, G. Rijulal³, Sibin Antony¹, Vinu V. Dev¹, S. Gayathri¹, A. Krishnakumar² and K. Anoop Krishnan^1*

¹Biogeochemistry Group, ²Hydrology Group, National Centre of Earth Science Studies, Akkulam, Trivandrum-695031(KL), India

³Department of Chemistry, Government College, Chittur, Palakkad-678104(KL), India

⁴Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Kerala, Kariavattom, Trivandrum-695581(KL), India

(*Corresponding Author, E-mail: sree.anoop@ncess.gov.in)

Abstract

The study investigated the role of hydrogeochemical parameters that act as indicators of environmental pollution in industrial areas of Periyar River, Kerala India. A total of 20 water/sediment samples collected along the industrial stretch of Eloor-Vypin area during the premonsoon season of the year 2020. Among the hydrochemical parameters, extent of pollution was imparted by the assessment of nutrients and heavy metals concentration. The micronutrients such as silicate (640-3440μg/L), ammonia (4.42-894.2μg/L), phosphate (28.65-132.41μg/L), nitrite (3.12-30.14μg/L), and nitrate (50.13-851.97μg/L) were found to have higher enrichment at locations near the industrial areas of the study. The identified heavy metals, Zn, Mn, Pb, Cr, Cd, and Th having concentrations ranging from 1.0-152.4, 1.2-49.2, 1.2-31.7, 3.0-26.2, 1.1-13.3, 0.1-3.2μg/L, respectively. Various pollution indices suggest that the sediments having low to moderate level heavy metal contamination. The conditions may be worsened in the future if the industrial activities are continued in an unregulated manner.

Keywords: Industrial Pollution; Heavy Metals; WQI; Hydrochemical Studies; Contamination Factor