Authors : Sailaja Kumari M.S, Maya T, Dr Tulasi V Gayathri Unnikrishnan, Vijayasree V, Ambika Devi
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Description :
Vembanadlake is the largest estuarine ecosystem in Kerala. The lake is fed by major rivers like Achankovil, Manimala, Meenachil, Pampa and Moovattupuzha. Long-term stagnation of this lake had encouraged the accumulation of pollutants.The concentrations of Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, Ni, Pb, Cd and Cr in water samples from Meenachal, Manimala, Pampa, Achankovil river stations were studied for four consecutive months. The Heavy Metal Pollution Index (HPI) was calculated from the data obtained for the water quality assessment based on heavy metal contamination of the four investigated rivers. The HPI values indicated that the water quality of the rivers except Achankovil was poor coming under the category of HPI: 50-75, which will be riskier to human health. The study is significant for creating awareness on the action plans forrestrictingthe pollutant influx into riversthere by creating a reductioninheavy metal pollution.
