Search

Soil pollution is a worldwide problem caused by both natural and anthropogenic activities. This has resulted in health and physiological problems to both plants and animals. This study investigated heavy metals in soils within the immediate vicinity. Soils from Seven APIIC zones in Visakhapatnam were collected and analysed for physicochemical characteristics and heavy metals. The data obtained were subjected to the pollution index model and multivariate statistical analysis. The data obtained showed that the soils are rich in zinc, and heavy metals are above trace level with a minor positively skewed distribution. The analysis of pollution index, geoaccumulation index and ecological risk factors in soils in all the locations showed that they are mainly contaminated and polluted by Cd followed by Zn. The mean heavy metal concentrations around APIIC can be arranged in increasing order as Cr < Co < Pb < Cu < Cd < Zn. Element pairs such as Zn-Pb, Zn-Cu, Zn-Cd, Pb-Cu, Pb-Cd, Cu-Cr, Cd-Co and Cr-Co showed strong positive correlation coefficient “r” indicating their association in the study area. The observed concentrations of heavy metals revealed that soil contamination has been increasing and measures must be taken to ensure the adoption of more environment-friendly practices.

Background: Fluoride is known to occur at elevated concentrations in a number of parts of the world and in such circumstances can have, and often has, a significant adverse impact on public health and well-being. Aim/Objectives: The present study was aimed to assess the level of fluoride ion concentration in the ground water resources. The study area selected is a total urban area of the city of Destiny, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India. The sample collection points are 17.7413o N, 83.3345o E (MVP colony) and 17.7328o N, 83.3369o E (Lawson's Bay colony). Materials and methods: The concentration of fluoride in the ground water samples were analysed using PPC model ER-79. By using a calibration curve, prepared the unknown concentration and determined using Orion fluoride ion electrode. Results: From the results it was found that, the fluoride concentrations showed variations in the study area. According to the study, the samples collected from grid numbers 9, 10 and 20 showed fluoride concentrations 1.0, 1.1, and 1.0 ppm respectively and though the fluoride concentrations of the water samples were seen to be slightly higher compared to the other water samples but within the permissible limits according to WHO guidelines. Conclusion: Groundwater contamination with arsenic, fluoride and nitrate recently possess serious health hazards to large sector of communities all over the world. As fluoride ion plays a key role in the human health, the present study was intended to analyse the groundwater resources in some important areas of Visakhapatnam City. According to the study it was found that there is no prevalence of fluorosis cases in these areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concentration of 23 metals was analyzed in the tissue of nine fish species, which represents the different habitats, i.e., primary feeder, tertiary feeder, and bottom feeder in fresh and marine waters of Visakhapatnam. Scomberomorus guttatus, Upeneus vittatus, and Penaeus indicus were selected in the coastal waters; Xiphias gladius, Stolephorus indicus, and Penaeus monodon from deep sea; and Channa striata, Puntius chola, and Macrobrachium rosenbergii from freshwater were analyzed. Metals in fish were analyzed by using the Inductive Couple Plasma Mass Spectrometer (ICP-MS). The concentrations of metals in fish were within the permissible limit set by WHO, FAO apart from Chromium, Aluminum, Manganese, and Arsenic. The concentrations were highest in coastal water fish and lowest in freshwater fish. Similarly, higher concentrations were observed in bottom feeders than in other tiers., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)