Assessment of Copper and Iron Concentration in Water of Yamuna River, Delhi, India

Abstract

The concentration of Copper (Cu) and Iron (Fe) in water from River Yamuna, Delhi, India, were determined by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). Heavy metals are potentially toxic and are transferred to the surrounding environment through different pathways. Heavy metals are considered one of the most dangerous groups since they are non-degradable due to their persistent nature, toxicity, and tendency to accumulate in organisms and alters the food chain cycle and still more. Yamuna river water may become contaminated by the accumulation of trace metals and metalloids through emissions from the rapidly expanding industrial areas, disposal of high metal wastes, leaded gasoline and paints, land application of fertilizers, animal manures, sewage sludge, pesticides, wastewater irrigation, and Electronic waste. Trace element toxicity has proven to be a major threat, and there are several health risks associated with it. Even though they do not have any biological role, these metals' toxic effects remain present in some of the other forms harmful for the human body and its proper functioning. On comparison of these heavy metals concentration in water, it was found that Fe, Cu were higher than the permissible limits of WHO, which gives an indication of hazardous risk to human health.