Assessment of background levels of trace metals in water and soil from a remote region of Himalaya

• Published in: Environmental monitoring and assessment 2012-03, Vol.184 (3), p.1243-1252
• Main Authors: Shah, Munir H., Iqbal, Javed, Shaheen, Nazia, Khan, Nadeem, Choudhary, Muhammad Aziz, Akhter, Gulraiz
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acids; Anthropogenic factors; Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; Atomic absorption spectroscopy; Cadmium; Chemistry; Cluster Analysis; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecology; Ecotoxicology; Environment; Environmental Management; Environmental Monitoring; Environmental Pollution - statistics & numerical data; Environmental testing; Fresh Water - chemistry; Heavy metal content; Lead; Metal concentrations; Metals; Metals - analysis; Monitoring/Environmental Analysis; Pakistan; Soil - chemistry; Soil Pollutants - analysis; Soils; Spectral analysis; Spectrometry; Studies; Trace elements; Trace metals; Water; Water analysis; Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis; Water sampling; Zinc
• ISSN: 0167-6369; 1573-2959
• DOI: 10.1007/s10661-011-2036-4

Selected trace metals were estimated by atomic absorption spectrometry in the water and soil samples collected from the remote region of Himalaya. The soil samples were analysed for soluble and acid extractable fraction of trace metals. In water samples, Ca, Na, Mg and K emerged as dominant contributors, whereas, Ca, Na, K, Mg, Fe and Pb were estimated at comparatively higher levels in the water extract of the soil. In case of acid extract of the soil samples, Ca, K, Fe, Mg, Mn and Na were found at elevated concentrations. Based on mean levels of the metals, following decreasing concentration order was observed in water samples: Ca > Na > Mg > K > Pb > Co > Cu > Zn > Mn > Cr > Fe > Cd > Li, however, in the acid extract of the soil, following order was noted: Ca > K > Fe > Mg > Mn > Na > Pb > Zn > Cr > Li > Cu > Co > Cd. The correlation study revealed appreciably diverse mutual relationships of trace metals in the water and soil samples. The multivariate cluster analyses exhibited divergent apportionment of trace metals in water and soil samples. Among the trace metals, Cd, Pb, Li, Zn, Cr, Cu, Mn and Co exhibited extreme to significant anthropogenic enrichment in the soil samples, while the rest of the metals were mostly contributed by the natural processes.