Characterization of heavy metal contamination in mulberry cultivated soils of Erode district in Tamil Nadu

Abstract

A detailed survey work was carried out in the contamination areas of Erode district, Tamil Nadu, India. The aim of the present study is to assess the level of heavy metal contamination in soils irrigated with sewage water and industrial effluents. The study showed that the soil irrigated with the sewage water and industrial effluents contained almost the heavy metals like Cr, Cd, Ni, and Pb which exceeded the critical limit. The concentrations of heavy metals namely Chromium, Cadmium, Nickel, and Lead were determined by Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy. The results obtained from the physico chemical analysis indicated that industrial effluents contaminated soils recorded pH 6.71 to 7.10, EC 0.62 to 2.12 dsm-1 and exchangeable sodium 144 to 220 ppm. The concentration of heavy metals in soil from the study sites were ranged from 1.20 to 117.4 ppm of Cr, 6.60 to 120.6 ppm of Cd, 6.40 to 73.60 ppm of Ni, and 4.60 to 119.8 ppm of Pb respectively.