Heavy metal content in irrigation water samples of Erode district, Tamil Nadu

Abstract

A detailed survey work was carried out in the contamination areas of Erode district, Tamil Nadu, India. A number of tanneries and textile industries have been established since the past three decades. It is reported that the effluents from these industries are directly discharged onto the surrounding land, irrigation fields and surface water bodies. As a result, it deteriorates the quality of irrigation water in the study area. The concentrations of various heavy metals namely (Cr, Cd, Ni and Pb) were estimated using Atomic Absorption Spectrometer. The average concentration of heavy metals in the irrigation water ranges from 0.076 - 1.249 ppm, 0.033 - 1.349 ppm, 0.003 - 0.284 ppm and 0.009 - 0.912 ppm for the metals Cr, Cd, Ni and Pb respectively.