Studies on the Metal Concentrations of Bottom Sediments of the River Ganga

Department of Chemistry, Kalyani University, Kalyani-741 235

Manuscript received 15 December 1992, revised 11 August 1994 accepted 30 March-1995

Estuarine sediments are sinks of various pollutants transported from land. Both natural processes and man-made activities like rapid industrialisation enrich the sediments with trace elements. The trace metal concentrations in sediments serve as useful indicator for pollutional load carried by the river Ganga and its water quality.

     Attempts have been made to study the trace metal mobilisation in sediments of the river Ganga at various depths at Kamarhati as well as along the banks of the river from Guptipara to Katchuberia, i.e. in the lower tidal zone. The metal mobilisation in terms of enrichment factor indicates considerable enrichment of the banks with trace elements.