Multivariate Statistical Approach for the Analysis of Organic and Inorganic Pollutants Loads in Gomti River at Lucknow City

Abstract

Life is impossible without water because demands of water increasing day by day with emergent population. By increasing the quantity of wastewater, sewage and chemicals containing effluent into the river system from household and industrial activities, the surface and ground water get significantly polluted. In present study, eleven organo-chlorine pesticides (OCPs), sixteen polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and nine heavy metals were determined in the water and bed sediment of the Gomti river in 10 different locations at Lucknow city. Multivariate statistical approach was applied in data of OCPs and PAHs for the identification of contamination level. Turbidity, TSS, TDS, BOD, alkalinity and hardness of water were higher than the prescribed limit. The concentration level of heavy metals observed in bed sediments as Fe > Mn > Zn > Cu > Cr > Ni > Pb > Cd > Co showed river moderately polluted as per USEPA. The values of ∑OCPs and ∑PAHs in water were found 519.9 µg/L and 20.3 µg/L, respectively while 2572.5 ng/g and 1523.2 ng/g in bed sediments. The values of ∑OCPs and ∑PAHs in river water were higher than the recommended value of Bureau of Indian Standards. The values of ∑OCPs, ∑PAHs and heavy metals were found higher in mid-stream suggested anthropogenic activity get pollute to the river. The present study suggested that anthropogenic activities due to growing population were main factor that causes the higher concentrations of OCPs and PAHs in mid-stream as compare to up and down streams. © 2020, University of Tehran.