Heavy Metal Pollution in Surface Soil of Korba Basin, India
Publication: Journal of Hazardous, Toxic, and Radioactive Waste
Volume 23, Issue 4
Abstract
Coal-fired power plants cause serious environmental impacts associated with air pollution, particulate matter, and heavy metals (HMs), among others. In this work, the spatial, temporal, and vertical concentration variations, pollution indices, and sources of As, Cr, Cd, Pb, Hg, Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, and Ni heavy metals were studied in the surface soil of the largest coal-burning area in India (Korba Basin) from 2011 to 2015. Heavy metal concentrations were in the following ranges: (As and Cr), (Cd), (Pb), and (Hg). Pollution indices showed a very severe contamination, especially for As, Ni, and Pb. In particular, the detected As content in the soil in both arsenite and arsenate forms was several times higher than the permissible limit. Urgent measures are needed to minimize the rate of contamination and remediate the extraordinarily serious heavy metals pollution problem in this area.
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Acknowledgments
The University Grant Commission, New Delhi, is greatly acknowledged for awarding the BSR fellowship to the fourth author through Grant No. F.18-1/2011(BSR)2016.
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Journal of Hazardous, Toxic, and Radioactive Waste
Volume 23 • Issue 4 • October 2019
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©2019 American Society of Civil Engineers.
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Received: Mar 15, 2019
Accepted: May 8, 2019
Published online: Aug 9, 2019
Published in print: Oct 1, 2019
Discussion open until: Jan 9, 2020
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