




































In ternationa l
Scholars
Journa ls

  

African Journal of Environmental Economics and Management ISSN 2375-0707 Vol. 5 (1), pp. 278-285, 
January, 2017. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals 

 

Author(s) retain the copyright of this article. 

 

Full Length Research Paper 
 

A study of the heavy metals and their level in the solid 
and liquid  waste in Uttarakhand state of India 

 

Sanjeev Ajit1, Mishra Naqvi1 and Vinay Maneka2 
 

1
College of Renewable Energy & Environmental Engineering, Sardarkrushinagar Dantiwada Agricultural University, 

Palanpur, Gujarat, India. 
2
Centre for Environmental Planning and Technology University, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India. 

 
Accepted 12 November,  2016 

 

The aim of this study was to estimate the heavy metals and their level in the solid and liquid (municipality waste 
and industrial effluent) waste in Uttarakhand state of India. It is the part of my research on IN SITU bioremediation. 
62 samples from 32 cities of Uttarakhand were collected according to standard method of APHA in triplicate. 
The heavy metals viz. Zinc (Zn), Manganese (Mn), Nickel (Ni), Copper (Cu), Chromium (Cr), Cadmium (Cd), Lead 
(Pb) and Cobalt (Co) were reported in the waste samples. Mercury and Arsenic were not detected in any set of 
sample. The metal Zinc was measured in maximum extent in all the samples. The metals Zn, Mg, Ni, Cu, Cr, Cd, 
Pb and Co were measured minimum 0.45mg/l, 0.28mg/l, 0.021mg/l, 0.005mg/l, 0.018mg/l, 0.001mg/l and 
0.002mg/l and maximum 11.9mg/l, 55.5 mg/l, 7.6 mg/l, 6.503 mg/l, 8.56 mg/l, 8.56 mg/l, 8.56 mg/l and 0.905 mg/l 
respectively. The heavy metals in waste can pose serious health problems in human also. It is recommended 
that periodic analytical testing of heavy metal should be carried out for maximum permissible level. Primary 
treatment is required for the quality of the waste/effluent. 
 
Keywords: Heavy Metal Toxicity, ICP-MS, e-waste, effluents, permissible limit.

 
INTRODUCTION 
 
The waste contaminates the soil. The solid waste 
includes garbage, domestic refuse and discarded solid 
materials such as those from commercial, industrial and 
agricultural operations. They contain increasing amounts 
of paper, cardboards, plastics, glass, old construction 
material, packaging material and toxic or otherwise 
hazardous substances (Knaebel et al., 1994). The e-
waste contains some very serious contaminants such as 
lead, cadmium, beryllium and brominates flame 
retardants (Dogbevi, 2007; Pinto 2009). Liquid waste, 
wastewater, fats, oils or grease or used oil have various 
contaminants including soil particles and other sediment, 
heavy metals, organic compounds, animal waste. It may 
be originated from various sites and by different uses 
(Massoud and Ahmad 2005). Industrial wastes will be as 
varied as the industries that generate the wastes. 
Municipal waste-water also contains a variety of inorganic 
substances from domestic and industrial sources, 
including a number of potentially toxic elements such as 
arsenic, cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, mercury, zinc 
etc (Ferrari et al., 1999). 

 
 
 
 

Some human activities have resulted in the 
accumulation of metals in the environment. Both soil and 
aqueous effluents have been contaminated with heavy 
metals as the result of numerous industrial activities, 
including mining, smelting, jewellery, automobile battery 
production, vehicle emission and landfilling of industrial 
waste and fly ash from incineration process. This 
contamination of the environment poses serious health 
threats to humans and animals, as these heavy metals 
tend to persist in the environment indefinitely.  

This kind of contamination presents a challenge, as the 
presence of heavy metals in soils and aqueous effluents 
leads to serious problems because they cannot be 
biodegraded. In this case, the metal ion can only be 
converted to the base metal, methylated, precipitated, 
 

 

 
Corresponding author. Email: sanjeev.ajit@yahoo.com



Ajit et al.          278 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
Figure 1. Location of Uttarakhand 

 
 

 
volatilized or complexed with an organic ligand. The 
development of technologies involving many of the 
processes listed above has been the subject of a host of 
basic and more applied projects. The more common 
heavy metals (HMs) associated with anthropogenic 
activities include lead, cadmium, copper, chromium, 
nickel, iron, mercury and zinc. Methods of treating the 
contaminated effluents currently consist of chemical 
precipitation, solvent extraction, dialysis, electrolytic 
extraction, cementation, reverse osmosis, evaporative 
methods, ion-exchange resins, carbon adsorption and 
dilution (European Union, 2002).  

Several metals are essential for biological systems and 
must be present in a certain concentration range. Too low 
concentrations lead to a decrease in metabolic activity. At 
too high concentrations these metals lead to toxicity. 
Nonessential metals are tolerated at very low 
concentrations and inhibit metabolic activity at higher 
concentrations. The many uses of heavy metals in 
several applications lead to their wide distribution in soil,  
silt,  waste  and  waste  water.  Such  pollution of   the 
environment by  toxic metals and radionuclide arises as 
a result of many human  activities, largely industrial, 
although such  sources as  agriculture   and sewage  
disposal also contribute. Heavy metal contamination can 
be a consequence of industrial activities that eliminate 
residues in the soil that in long term promote their 
accumulation. The majority of the sources are originated 
by human actions like metal manufacture and mining 
industries with storage, disposal and transportation 
problems (Glick, 2003). Among the metals found more 
frequently there are Cd, Pb, Co, Cu, Hg, Ni, Si and Zn. 
For Cd, Pb, Cu and Zn, their toxicity increases as follows: 
Pb < Zn < Cu < Cd, depending on countless abiotic and 
biotic factors (Zenker et al., 2005).  

The discharge of wastewater containing high 
concentrations of heavy metals to receiving water bodies 
has serious adverse environmental effects. Their 
occurrence and accumulation in the environment is a 
result of direct or indirect human activities, such as rapid 

 
 

 
industrialization, urbanization and anthropogenic sources 
(EPA, 1998; 2000; Hussein et al., 2005; Gardea et al., 
2005). Metals when present in our body are capable of 
causing serious health problems, by interfering with, our 
normal body functions. Some of these metals are useful 
to the body in low concentrations like arsenic, copper, 
iron and nickel but are toxic at high concentrations. Other 
metals like aluminum, beryllium, cadmium, lead and 
mercury have no biological functions and are highly toxic 
disrupting bodily functions to a large extent. They disrupt 
bodily functions by accumulating in vital organs and 
glands in the human body such as in the heart, brain, 
kidney, bone and liver.  

They also displace vital nutritional minerals from their 
proper place in the body to provide biological functions 
e.g., lead or cadmium displaces calcium in an enzyme 
reaction disrupting the enzyme reaction to a large extent 
(European Union, 2002). Cr (VI) is toxic, carcinogenic 
and mutagenic to animals as well as humans and is 
associated with decreased plant growth and changes in 
plant morphology. They cause physical discomforts, 
diseases and disorders and sometimes life threatening 
illness including irreversible damage to vital body system 
(Malik, 2004; Ozer and Pirincci, 2006). 
 
 
MATERIALS AND METHODS 
 
Sampling Sites And Sample Collection 
 
The solid and liquid wastes were collected from 32 
different sites of Uttarakhand (Figure 1) especially from 
municipality and industrial area. The sites were identified 
for sample collection and given a definite code (Table 1). 
The method of sample (solid and liquid waste) collection 
was followed of APHA 1998. The solid waste samples 
were collected in polythene bags of capacity 1 kg and 
carried to laboratory in well packed box sealed in ice to 

avoid the contamination. The area covered 1 m
2
 in depth 

of 25 cm. The liquid wastes was collected in pre-rinsed 



 
 
 

 

 
Table 1. Name of sampling site with code. 

 
 S.No. Sampling Site Code S.No. Sampling Site Code 
       

 1 Pauri PA 17 Joshimath JM 
 2 Lansdown LD 18 Ukhimath UM 
 3 Kotdwara KD 19 Srinagar SN 
 4 Rudraprayag RG 20 Uttarkhashi UK 
 5 Devprayag DP 21 Purola PL 
 6 Almora AM 22 Mussorie MR 
 7 Lohaghat LG 23 Dhanolti DN 
 8 Ranikhet RT 24 Chamba CB 
 9 Nainital NL 25 New Tehri NT 
 10 Haldwani HD 26 Badshahithaul BT 
 11 Pantnagar PN 27 Chakrata CR 
 12 Rudrapur RP 28 Dakpathar DK 
 13 Tanakpur TP 29 Dehradun DD 
 14 Kashipur KR 30 Haridwar HR 
 15 Corbett National Park CP 31 Rishikesh RK 
 16 Roorkee RR 32 Lakshar LS 

 
 

 
clean one liter polythene bottle having double stopper 
facility to its full capacity without entrapping air bubbles 
inside it. 
 
 
Preparation Of Leachate 
 
The leachate from solid waste was prepared according to 
the method described by French Standard method 
(Ferrari et al., 1999, Srivastava et al., 2005 and Savitha 
et al., 2010). For leachate preparation; 100 g of solid 
waste was added to 1000 ml of distilled water, which was 

kept on a rotary shaker at 180 rpm at 30 ±1
0
C for 24 hr 

for continuous shaking. The suspension was first course 
filtered muslin cloth and then by Whatman filters paper 
No. 42. To remove the fine suspended particles, it was 
centrifuged at 3000 rpm for 15 min and the supernatant 
was used for heavy metal analysis. 
 
 
Heavy Metal Analysis 
 
The filtrate of solid and liquid waste was used to analyze 
the heavy metal concentrations by Inductive Coupled 
Plasma-Mass Spectroscopy (ICP-MS) using AR grade 
chemicals and high grade reference (Ashok et al., 2010). 
 
 
Analysis Of Data 
 
The data (Tables 2,3,4,6) were statistically analyzed by 
using one way analysis of variance (ANOVA) at p = 0.05 
(Snedecor and Cochran 1982; SAS 2001). All statistical 
analyses were performed with Statistical Analysis System 
programs SPSS 10.0 for Windows 2003 XP. 

 
 
 
RESULTS 
 
The eight metals viz. zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), nickel 
(Ni), copper (Cu), chromium (Cr), cadmium (Cd), lead 
(Pb) and cobalt (Co) were measured in the solid and 
liquid waste. Mercury (Hg) and arsenic (As) were not 
detected in any set of sample. Zinc found in high extent 
among the samples analyzed although it was nil in 19 
samples i.e. 15 solid samples PA, RG, NL, PN, RP, CP, 
UM, SN, UK, PL, DN, CB, NT, BT, LS and 4 liquid 
samples LG, JM, PL and CR. Zinc was recorded 
minimum (0.45mg/l) at Almora (solid) and maximum 
(11.9mg/l) at Roorkee (liquid).  

Manganese was nil in 25 samples i.e. 11 solid samples- 
RG, AM, RT, PN, RP, TP, CP, UM, SN, DN, LS and 14 
liquid samples- LD, AM, LG, RT, HD, PN, RP, CP, JM, 
UM, UK, PL, DN and CR. Manganese was minimum 
(0.28mg/l) at Purola (solid) and maximum (55.5 mg/l) at 
Kashipur (liquid). Nickel found nil in 33 samples i.e. 5 
solid samples of AM, TP, JM, CR, RR and 26 liquid 
samples of PA, LD, KD, RG, DP, AM, RT, NL, RP, CP, 
JM, UM, SN, UK, PL, MR, CB, NT, BT, CR, DK, DD, HR, 
RK and LS. Ni was minimum (0.021mg/l) at Danolti (solid) 
and maximum (7.6 mg/l) at Musoorie (solid). The copper 
was not detected in the 32 samples (26 solid samples of PA, 
LD, KD, RG, DP, NL, HD, PN, TP, KR, CP, JM, UM, SN, UK, 
PL, MR, CB, NT, BT, DK, DD, HR, RH, LS and RR and 6 
liquid samples of LG, RP, TP, KR, CP and DK). Copper was 
minimum (0.005mg/l) at Dhanolti (liquid) and maximum 
(6.503 mg/l) Lansdwon (liquid). Chromium found nil in 26 
samples i.e. 12 solid samples of LD, RT, NL, TP, CP, JM, 
SN, UK, PL, CB, NT, BT and 14 liquid samples of LD, RG, 
DP, AM, LG, NL, RP, UM, UK, PL, DN, NT, DK and RR. 
Chromium was minimum (0.018mg/l) at Lakshar (solid) and 

maximum (8.56 mg/l) at Haridwar (liquid). 

279          Afr. J. Environ. Econ. Manage. 



       

Table 2. Total Metals Analysis in Solid and Liquid wastes (mg/l)        
             

S. No City Waste Zn Mn Ni Cu Cr Cd Pb Hg Co As 
1 PA Solid nil 12.50 0.85 nil 0.09 nil nil nil 0.230 nil 

  Liquid 4.560 15.90 nil 1.09 0.03 0.007 0.830 nil nil nil 
2 LD Solid 4.905 3.678 0.875 nil nil 0.215 nil nil 0.35 nil 

  Liquid 5.680 nil nil 6.503 nil 2.380 nil nil nil nil 
3 KD Solid 6.458 11.90 5.95 nil 0.45 nil nil nil 0.430 nil 

  Liquid 5.435 12.40 nil 3.78 0.76 0.100 0.322 nil nil nil 
4 RG Solid nil nil 6.50 nil 0.32 nil nil nil 0.450 nil 

  Liquid 4.550 9.87 nil 1.65 nil 0.012 0.025 nil nil nil 
5 DP Solid 3.455 4.58 3.30 nil 0.05 nil nil nil 0.230 nil 

  Liquid 4.350 8.90 nil 0.79 nil 0.015 0.054 nil nil nil 
6 AM Solid 4.567 nil nil 0.452 3.456 0.005 nil nil nil nil 

  Liquid 0.45 nil nil 0.580 nil 0.086 0.02 nil nil nil 
7 LG Solid 2.505 1.560 2.456 0.580 0.450 nil nil nil nil nil 

  Liquid nil nil 2.350 nil nil nil 0.568 nil nil nil 
8 RT Solid 5.89 nil 0.785 3.568 nil nil 0.05 nil nil nil 

  Liquid 2.36 nil nil 1.456 0.067 0.043 nil nil nil nil 
9 NL Solid nil 9.50 1.29 nil nil nil nil nil 0.089 nil 

  Liquid 2.320 4.60 nil 0.110 nil 0.008 0.010 nil nil nil 
10 HD Solid 2.305 5.45 1.95 nil 0.560 nil nil nil 0.087 nil 

  Liquid 4.550 nil nil 0.320 0.870 0.010 0.120 nil nil nil 
11 PN Solid nil nil 0.345 nil 2.650 nil 0.785 nil nil nil 

  Liquid 8.905 nil 0.125 0.645 0.128 0.760 nil nil 0.50 nil 
12 RP Solid nil nil 2.872 0.325 0.785 nil 0.896 nil nil nil 

  Liquid 4.680 nil nil nil nil nil 0.325 nil nil nil 
13 TP Solid 4.580 nil nil nil nil 0.234 0.456 nil nil nil 

  Liquid 2.456 3.245 3.456 nil 0.981 0.680 nil nil nil nil 
14 KR Solid 5.860 35.50 6.50 nil 3.12 nil nil nil 0.205 nil 

  Liquid 8.780 55.50 1.35 nil 2.15 0.605 0.564 nil 0.260 nil 
15 CP Solid nil nil 0.654 nil nil nil 0.765 nil 0.25 nil 

  Liquid 4.891 nil nil nil 6.40 0.505 nil nil nil nil 
16 JM Solid 6.780 2.543 nil nil nil nil nil nil nil nil 

  Liquid nil nil nil 0.783 0.532 0.543 0.543 nil nil nil 
17 UM Solid nil nil 4.50 nil 0.32 nil nil nil nil nil 

  Liquid 4.550 nil nil 1.05 nil 0.015 0.035 nil 0.350 nil 
18 SN Solid nil nil 0.78 nil nil nil nil nil 0.120 nil 

  Liquid 6.980 10.65 nil 0.45 0.07 0.002 0.230 nil nil nil 
19 UK Solid nil 0.980 0.03 nil nil nil nil nil 0.002 nil 

  Liquid 3.120 nil nil 0.065 nil 0.003 0.013 nil nil nil 
20 PL Solid nil 0.280 0.033 nil nil nil nil nil 0.002 nil 

  Liquid nil nil nil 0.065 nil 0.003 nil nil nil nil 
21 MR Solid 8.455 12.97 7.60 nil 0.56 nil nil nil 0.905 nil 

  Liquid 8.120 34.80 nil 5.95 1.05 0.210 0.202 nil nil nil 
22 DN Solid nil nil 0.021 0.052 0.050 nil 0.003 nil nil nil 

  Liquid 1.68 nil 0.022 0.005 nil nil nil nil nil nil 
23 CB Solid nil 3.60 0.40 nil nil nil nil nil 0.079 nil 

  Liquid 6.840 6.50 nil 0.89 0.098 0.003 0.101 nil nil nil 
24 NT Solid nil 1.50 0.06 nil nil nil nil nil 0.045 nil 

  Liquid 5.989 7.80 nil 0.015 nil 0.001 0.010 nil nil nil 
25 BT Solid nil 8.95 0.76 nil nil nil nil nil 0.040 nil 

  Liquid 0.760 4.76 nil 2.08 0.054 0.004 0.150 nil nil nil 
26 CR Solid 0.890 5.560 nil 1.65 1.98 nil nil nil nil nil 

  Liquid nil nil nil 2.087 0.98 2.56 nil nil nil nil 
27 DK Solid 3.257 11.85 2.58 nil 0.605 nil nil nil nil nil 

  Liquid 5.505 8.85 nil nil nil 0.012 0.025 nil nil nil 
28 DD Solid 7.908 30.20 5.50 nil 3.34 nil nil nil 0.605 nil 

  Liquid 9.980 45.75 nil 4.78 1.85 0.405 0.560 nil nil nil 
29 HR Solid 7.830 10.90 5.30 nil 2.09 nil nil nil 0.550 nil 

  Liquid 8.227 20.50 nil 3.90 8.56 0.523 0.858 nil nil nil 
30 RK Solid 7.980 11.45 2.60 nil 0.96 nil nil nil 0.420 nil 

  Liquid 8.500 13.67 nil 1.80 1.45 0.020 0.865 nil nil nil 

Ajit et al.          280 



          

Table 2. Cont.            
             

31 LS Solid nil nil 0.65 nil 0.018 nil nil nil 0.076 nil 
  Liquid 3.450 3.07 nil 0.078 0.020 0.005 0.011 nil nil nil 

32 RR Solid 8.90 20.55 nil nil 3.45 nil nil nil nil nil 
  Liquid 11.9 45.75 5.30 4.78 nil 0.405 0.56 nil 0.15 nil 
 

*Leachate was used to test. #Data depicted in the table is the average of three samples. 
 

 
Cadmium found not measured in 32 samples i.e. 29 

solid samples of PA, KD, RG, DP, LG, RT, NL, HD, PN, 
RP, KR, CP, JM, SN, UK, PL, MR, DN, CB, NT, BT, CR, 
DK, DD, HR, RH, LS, RR cities and 3 liquid samples of 
LG, RP and DN. Cadmium was minimum (0.001mg/l) at 
New Tehri (liquid) and maximum (8.56 mg/l) at Chakrata 
(liquid). Lead was found nil in 35 samples (26 solid 
samples of PA, LD, KD, RG, DP, AM, LG, NL, HD, KR, 
JM, UM, SN, UK, PL, MR, CB, NT, BT, CR, DK, DD, HR, 
RH, LS, RR and 9 liquid samples of LD, RT, PN, TP, CP, 
PL, DN, CR). Lead was recorded minimum (0.003mg/l) at 
Dhanolti (solid) and maximum (8.56 mg/l) at Rudrapur 
(solid). Cobalt was nil in 40 samples i.e. 12 solid and 28 
liquid out of 64 samples. Cobalt was measured minimum 
(0.002mg/l) UK (solid) and maximum (0.905 mg/l) MR 
(solid).  

The total metal analysis was done for river water and it 
was found that water sample of YY had no metals 
although Zn was found in all water samples except BG, 
MR and YY. Copper (Cu) was detected in Alaknanda at 
Rudraprayag (0.52mg/l) and Yamuna at Dakpathar 
(0.004mg/l) only. Cadmium (Cd) was found in Ganga at 
Hardwar (0.012mg/l) and Yamuna at Dakpathar 
(0.011mg/l), nickel (Ni) in Ganga at Hardwar (0.01mg/l) 
and lead (Pb) in Ganga at Hardwar (0.08mg/l) and 
Yamuna at Dakpathar (0.53mg/l). Mn, Hg, Co and As 
were not detected in any sample (Table 2). 
 
 
DISCUSSION 
 
The elements viz. Zn, Mn, Ni, Cu, Cr, Cd, Pb and Co 
were observed in the waste samples. According to ICMR 
(1996) the zinc is an essential element in human 
metabolism. It changes the verge taste at about 5 mg/l 
and imparts caustic taste to water. Manganese is 
essential as a cofactor in enzyme systems and 
metabolism processes. It is reported (ICMR, 1996; WHO, 
2001) that the excess of Mn causes change in appetite 
and reduction in metabolism of iron to form hemoglobin. It 
imparts undesirable taste and stains plumbing fixtures 
and laundry. The nickel observed 0.021 mg/l to 7.6 mg/l 
in the waste samples, whereas the desirable limit is 0.20 
mg/l for crop production, it reduced toxicity at neutral or 
alkaline pH (Pratt, 1972).  

The short-term overexposure to nickel (USEPA, 2000) 
is not known to cause any health problems, but long-term 
exposure can cause decreased body weight, heart and 
liver damage and skin irritation. The EPA does not 

 

 
currently regulate nickel levels in drinking water. Nickel 
can accumulate in aquatic life, but its presence is not 
magnified along food chains (USEPA, 2000). The copper 
was observed 0.005mg/l - 6.503 mg/l which exceeded the 
permissible limit for crop production and is toxic to a 
number of plants (Pratt, 1972). Copper in the natural 
water also results in higher concentration due to pollution. 
According to ICMR, (1996) it imparts biting taste but 
essential element in human metabolism. The deficiency 
of Cu results in nutritional anemia in infants and large 
amount of Cu may result in liver damage, cause CNS 
irritation and depression.  

The chromium was found 0.018 mg/l - 8.56 mg/l in the 
waste samples, which showed beyond the limit (0.10 
mg/l). It is not generally recognized as an essential 
growth element. Pratt, (1972) reported that the 
conservative limits recommended due to lack of 
knowledge on its toxicity to plants. According to 
Bandyopadhyay and Biswas, (1998) the chromium is one 
of the toxic heavy metals and because of its wide 
application; there is urgent need to remove the chromium 
compounds from various polluting streams. Sharma and 
Forster, (1993) observed two forms of chromium; trivalent 
and hexavalent, which are found in industrial wastewater. 
The hexavalent form Cr (IV) is more toxic to human than 
the trivalent form. Baisakh and Patnaik, (2002) observed 
in the animal experiments that acutely toxic doses of Cr 
(III) fall in range of g/kg of body weight. Dietary intake of 
Cr (IV) in mg/l levels produces chronic toxicity causing 
erosion of gastrointestinal tract and kidney lesions.  
The cadmium was recorded 0.001mg/l - 8.56 mg/l in the 
waste samples. In the environments, cadmium is reported 
toxic to animals and microorganisms. According to 
National Academy of Sciences (1972), the cadmium is 
toxic to beans, beets and turnips at concentrations as low 
as 0.1 mg/l in nutrient solutions. Conservative limits 
recommended due to its potential for accumulation in 
plants and soils to concentrations that may be harmful to 
humans. USEPA, (2000) reported that cadmium 
accumulates especially in the kidneys leading to 
dysfunction of the kidney with increased secretion of 
proteins in urine. Intake of cadmium is generally based on 
diet, particular vegetables and corn products.  
The lead was recorded 0.003mg/l - 8.56 mg/l in the 
samples. The permissible limit of lead is 5 mg/l. 
According to Pratt and NAS, (1972) lead can inhibit 
plant cell growth at very high concentrations. USEPA,  
(2000) reported that Lead influences the nervous system, 

281          Afr. J. Environ. Econ. Manage. 



Ajit et al.          282 
 
 

 
Table 3.: Limits of Heavy Metals in Drinking Water as BIS Specification and 
APHA Guidelines 

 
 S. No. Parameter/ Unit Standard Limit 
  Characteristics   
    Desirable Permissible 
    Limit Limit 
      

 1. Arsenic mg/l 0.05 NR* 
 2. Aluminium mg/l 0.03 0.2 
 3. Calcium mg/l 75 200 
 4. Cadmium mg/l 0.01 NR 
 5. Chromium mg/l 0.05 NR 
 6. Copper mg/l 0.05 1.5 
 7. Iron mg/l 0.3 1.0 
 8. Magnesium mg/l 30 100 
 9. Manganese mg/l 0.10 0.30 
 10. Lead mg/l 0.05 NR 
 11. Zinc mg/l 5 15 

   *NR: No Relaxation   
 

 
Table 4. Maximum conc. Level for Heavy Metal conc. in Air, Soil and Water (UNEPA) 

 
Heavy Metal Max Conc. in Air Max Conc. in Sludge Max Conc. in Drinking Water Max Conc. in Aquatic Life 

 (mg/m
3
) Soil (mg/kg) (mg/l) (mg/l) 

Cd 0.1-0.2 85 0.005 0.008 
Pb __ 420 0.001 0.0058 
Zn 1.5 7500 5.00 0.0766 
Hg __ <1 0.002 0.05 
Ca .5 Tolerable 50 Tolerable>50 
Ag 0.01 __ 00 0.1 
As __ __ 0.01 __ 

      
(Adapted from USEPA, 1992; Washington Code, 1992) 

 
 

 
slowing down the nerve response and also influences 
learning abilities and behavior. Children are exposed to 
lead right form their birth, as children in the embryonic 
stage receive lead from the mothers through the blood 
(WHO, 2004).  

The cobalt was observed 0.002mg/l - 0.905 mg/l in the 
samples. The threshold limit of cobalt is 0.05 mg/l. Pratt, 
(1972) observed that cobalt is toxic to the plant especially 
tomato at 0.1 mg/l in nutrient solution, it tends to be 
inactivated by neutral and alkaline soils. According to 
Glick (2003), heavy metal contamination can be a 
consequence of industrial activities that eliminate 
residues in the soil that in long terms, promote their 
accumulation. Zenker et al., (2005) reported that the 
majority of the sources are originated by human actions 
like metal manufacture and mining industries with 
storage, disposal and transportation problems.  

Analysis of a polluted environment with heavy metals 

 
 

 
from other sources such as Cu and Zn in animal manures 
(Christie and Beattie, 1989), run-off from timber treatment 
plants (Bardgett et al., 1994), past applications of Cu-
containing fungicides (Zelles et al., 1994) and analysis of 
soils in the vicinity of metal-contaminated army disposal 
sites (Kuperman and Carreiro, 1997) confirm that a 
decrease in the microbial biomass occurs at a relatively 
modest, and sometimes even at a low (Dehlin et al., 
1997) metal loading (Ghorbani et al., 2002). Metals when 
present in our body are capable of causing serious health 
problems, by interfering with, our normal body functions 
(Ray and Ray, 2009). Some of these metals are useful to 
the body in low concentrations like arsenic, copper, iron 
and nickel but are toxic at high concentrations. Other 
metals like aluminum, beryllium, cadmium, lead and 
mercury have no biological functions and are highly toxic 
disrupting bodily functions to a large extent. They disrupt 
bodily functions by accumulating in 



  
 
 
 

Table 5: Effluent Discharge Standards (BIS) 
 

Aluminium mg/l 5 
Arsenic mg/l 0.1 

Beryllium mg/l 0.1 
Boron mg/l 0.75 

Cadmium mg/l 0.01 
Cobalt mg/l 0.05 
Copper mg/l 0.5 

Iron mg/l 2.0 
Lead mg/l 0.05 

Lithium mg/l 2.5 
Manganese mg/l 0.2 

Mercury mg/l 0.005 
Molybdenum mg/l 0.01 

Nickel mg/l 0.1 
Selenium mg/l 0.02 
Sodium mg/l 200 

Total Chromium mg/l 0.05 
Vanadium mg/l 0.1 

Zinc mg/l 2 
 

 
Table 6: Threshold Levels of Trace Elements for Crop Production (mg/l) 

 
 S. No. Element Symbol Limit Remarks 
 1 Arsenic As 0.10 Toxicity to plants varies widely, ranging from 12 mg/l for Sudan grass to 
     less than 0.05 mg/l for rice. 
 2 Cadmium Cd 0.01 Toxic to beans, beets and turnips at concentrations as low as 0.1 mg/l in 
     nutrient solutions. Conservative limits recommended due to its potential 
     for accumulation in plants and soils to concentrations that may be harmful 
     to humans. 
 3 Cobalt Co 0.05 Toxic to tomato plants at 0.1 mg/l in nutrient solution. Tends to be 
     inactivated by neutral and alkaline soils. 
 4 Chromium Cr 0.10 Not generally recognized as an essential growth element. Conservative 
     limits recommended due to lack of knowledge on its toxicity to plants. 
 5 Copper Cu 0.20 Toxic to a number of plants at 0.1 to 1.0 mg/l in nutrient solutions. 
 6 Fluoride F 1.0 Inactivated by neutral and alkaline soils. 
 7 Manganese Mn 0.20 Toxic to a number of crops at few-tenths to a few mg/l, but usually only in 
     acid soils. 
 8 Nickel Ni 0.20 Toxic to a number of plants at 0.5 mg/l to 1.0 mg/l; reduced toxicity at 
     neutral or alkaline pH. 
 9 Lead Pb 5.0 Can inhibit plant cell growth at very high concentrations. 
 10 Zinc Zn 2.0 Toxic to many plants at widely varying concentrations; reduced toxicity at 
     pH > 6.0 and in fine textured or organic soils. 
       

Source: Adapted from National Academy of Sciences (1972) and Pratt (1972). 
 
 

 
vital organs and glands in the human body such as in the 
liver, bone, kidney, heart, brain. They also displace vital 
nutritional minerals from their proper place in the body to 
provide biological functions e.g. lead or cadmium 
displaces calcium in an enzyme reaction disrupting the 
enzyme reactions to a large extent. As their impact in the 
body, is at such basic levels that they are the casual 
factors in multiple health problems. Leonard et al., (2004) 
reported that the metal causes genotoxicity as they affect 
the DNA and immunotoxicity as they are major irritants 

 
 

 
to the body. The genomic instability by these metals 
induces cancer.  

Heavy metals pollution such as copper, cadmium, lead, 
mercury, arsenic and chromium has been classified as a 
priority pollutant by the Department of Environment. 
Continuous monitoring of heavy metals level in the 
environment is very important since it cannot be 
degraded and becoming public health problem when 
increased above acceptance level. Health problem due to 
heavy metals pollution include nausea, vomiting, bone 

283          Afr. J. Environ. Econ. Manage. 



Ajit et al.          284 
 
 

 
complications, nervous system impairments and even 
death become a major problem throughout many 
countries when metal ions concentration in the 
environment exceeded the admissible limits 
(McCluggage, 1991). Due to that, various treatment 
technologies had been searched to reduce the 
concentration of heavy metals in the environment. 
Sawyer and McCarty, (1979) reported that the heavy 
metal include lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), zinc (Zn), 
mercury (Hg), arsenic (As), silver (Ag) chromium (Cr), 
copper (Cu) iron (Fe) and the platinum group elements. 
USEPA, (2000) defined the pollutant that any substance 
in the environment, which causes objectionable effects, 
impairing the welfare of the environment, reducing the 
quality of life and may eventually cause death is known 
as pollutant. Such a substance has to be present in the 
environment beyond a set or tolerance limit, which could 
be either a desirable or acceptable limit.  

Living organisms require varying amounts of heavy 
metals. Some metals viz. iron, cobalt, copper, 
manganese, molybdenum and zinc are required by 
humans. Excessive levels can be damaging to the 
organism. Other heavy metals such as mercury, 
plutonium and lead are toxic metals that have no known 
vital or beneficial effect on organisms and their 
accumulation over time in the bodies of animals can 
cause serious illness (Leonard, 2004). Nies (1999) 
observed that the metals may present in the earth’s crust 
only in very low amounts or the ion of the particular heavy 
metal may not be soluble. Many investigators (Garbarino 
et al., 1995; INECAR, 2000; European Union, 2002) 
observed that the metals are leached out and in sloppy 
areas and carried by acid water downstream or run-off to 
the sea. 
 
 
CONCLUSION 
 
Study reveals the heavy metals present above the 
permissible limit in the waste (solid and liquid). The 
minimum Zinc content was recorded 0.45mg/l in solid 
waste of Almora city and the maximum (11.9mg/l) in the 
liquid sample of Roorkee city, which was beyond the 
limit.The waste having metal beyond maximum 
permissible level, should not dispose into the 
dustbins/gutters/municipality waste dumps.  

The heavy metals are toxic for crops; they reduce the 
crop yields and cause diseases in the plants. Periodic 
analytical testing of heavy metal must be carried out for 
maximum permissible level to ensure that the pollutant 
removed is not introduced back. Properly channeled drain 
with equalizing pipes to ensure regularized and monitored 
flow of liquid waste onto the dump sites will help keep the 
heavy metal free environment. There should be public 
education on the economic as well as the environmental 
importance of heavy metals and their toxic effects. There 
should be laws that will prevent the disposal of electronic 

waste. 

 
 
 

 
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT 
 
Authors are thankful to Prof. J.P. Bhatt, HOD 
Biotechnology and Zoology, HNBGU (A central 
University) Srinagar Garhwal (Uttarakhand) INDIA for his 
valuable suggestions and Dr. Gaurav Gupta, Director 
Himachal Institute of Life Sciences, Paonta Sahib (HP) 
INDIA for providing the lab facility. The authors are also 
grateful to Dr. A.K Singh, Scientist C, Wadia Institute of 
Himalayan Geology for technical support and K.P 
Rathoure (Mrs.) for valuable comments. 
 
 
 
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