Monitoring of metal contaminations in groundwater in Northern Rajasthan, India

Abstract

Vikas Duggal, Asha Rani, Rohit Mehra

Aim: The purpose of this study was to monitor concentrations of Zn, Cd, Pb, Cu and pH in groundwater of Hanumangarh, Sri Ganganagar, Churu and Sikar districts of in Northern Rajasthan, India; and to identify any relationships between metals. Materials and Methods: Heavy metals were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Results: The measured concentrations of Zn, Cd, Pb and Cu varied from 14 to 23685 μg/l, 0.18 to 6.70 μg/l, 1 to 17 μg/l and 5 to 73 μg/l with overall mean values of 1595 ± 4094, 0.68 ± 1.02, 9 ± 4.44 and 23 ± 17 μg/l respectively. Conclusions: Copper level was found to be below the permissible limit of United States Environmental Protection Agency (1300 μg/l). In water sample code H-8 (Morjand Sikhan), the level of Cd was found (6.70 μg/l)to be above the permissible level (5 μg/l). In water samples codes H-7, H-9 and S-7 (Amarpura Jallu Khatt, Amar Singh Wala and Khandela-2), the level of Pb was found to be above the permissible level (15 μg/l). Significant correlations were found among the pH of water and different heavy metal concentrations.