Heavy Metals in the Effluent Discharged from Loco and Carriage Workshops, Ajmer, Rajasthan

Heavy metals are widely distributed in the earth's crust, atmosphere, seawater and freshwaters as a result of soil erosion, release of industrial effluents and agricultural practices, etc. Industrial effluents may be considered as one of the major sources of heavy metal pollution. The contamination of groundwater and soil has received great significance during recent years due to the toxicity and accumulation behaviour, which may have an adverse effect on ecosystems and human health. Present study involves analysis of heavy metals and other physicochemical parameters like pH, EC, colour and COD in effluent discharged from Loco and Carriage Workshops, Ajmer. Effluent samples were collected monthly in the year 2007. The study indicates slightly acidic nature of the effluent. Colour of all the effluent samples was black. Oil and grease and COD in all the samples were found higher than the prescribed limits of WHO. Cu and Zn content of all the samples were within the prescribed limits, whereas Cd, Fe and Pb were higher than the prescribed limits.