Continental J.

Water, Air and Soil Pollution 1: 6 - 12, 2010

©Wilolud Journals, 2010 http://www.wiloludjournal.com

HEAVY METAL POLLUTION IN A TROPICAL LAGOON CHILIKA LAKE, ORISSA, INDIA

1
Sagarika Nayak, 2Gayatri Nahak, 3Debyani Samantray and 2Rajani Kanta Sahu
1
Kalinga Institute of Social Science, K.I.T. Campus, Bhubaneswar, Orissa, 2Botany Department, B.J.B. (A) College,
Bhubaneswar, Orissa, 3Bioinformatics Department, B.J.B. (A) College, Bhubaneswar, Orissa

ABSTRACT
Chilika lake, the largest costal lagoon of Asia is one of the most dynamic ecosystems along the
Indian coast. The lagoon has undergone a considerable reduction in surface area due to input
from natural process and human activities. The purpose of this investigation is to document the
heavy metal concentration in sediment, surface water and possible entry to food chain.
Concentration of all elements increase in the sediments in comparison to surface water. Metal
ions are in the following order Mn> Mg> Ni> Cu>Zn> Cu> Pb> Cr. In the sediments heavy
metals like Pb, Cd, Mn, Ni, Zn, Co are present in surface water and Mg was below detection
limits. Metal concentrations in the sediment indicate an increase in the pollution load due to
movement of fertilizers, agricultural water, prawn cultivation and Motor Boat operations. An
immediate attention from the concerned authorities is required in order to protect the lake from
further pollution.

KEYWORDS: Physico-chemical parameters, Heavy metal, Sediment, Chilika Lake.

INTRODUCTION
As the human population increased exponentially the supply of water became scarce and limited because all human
activities impair the natural quality of water. Human activities often change them so completely that they become of
minimal use or unusable (Fig-3,5). They are perturbed not because they are used for some specific purpose, but
rather because they serve as the sinks for by-products such as waste and waste water and other types of contaminants
of various activities of human society (Clapham, 1981). The discharge of untreated or insufficiently treated
domestic or industrial wastewater is one of the most important causes of pollution of these water bodies. The
world’s lakes are in crisis to day, because of increasing pressure caused by population growth, accelerated
eutrophication, invasive species, over fishing, toxic contamination and climate change. All these factors seriously
undermine the sustainability of many lake ecosystems both in the developing and developed countries.

Location of Chilika Lake

Chilika, the largest brackish water lake in Asia is situated between 19028' and 19054' N latitude and 85005' and
85038' E, longitude along the east coast of India. It extends from the South-west corner of Puri and Khurda district
to the adjoining Ganjam district. It is pear shaped and broader in North-East and tappers down towards South-West.

General Description of Lake Environment

Geographically the lagoon is separated from the Bay of Bengal by a 60 KM long sandy barrier with an average
width of 150mts (Venkatratnam, 1970) in the Eastern side and rocky hills of Eastern Ghats in the Western and
Southern margin (Fig 1). The Northern side is surrounded with in the Southern most regions to about 16 KM in the
Northern part. The major part of the lake lies in Puri and Khurda district and only a narrow stretch of the Southern
region lies in Ganjam district. Annandale and Kemp (1915) estimated the water spread area of the lake to be
906sqkm during summer and 1165sqkm during monsoon months. This was supported by Mishra (1979) and
Jhingran (1915). However the report of DST, Government of Orissa (1989) indicates that the water spread reduced
to 790sqkm. A 35 KM long narrow zigzag channel known as outer channel, connect the lake with the sea. The
channel opens into Bay of Bengal through a narrow inlet near Arakhakuda. The channel opens into the main body
of the lake at Magarmukh (Mouth of Crocodile). The tidal influence is felt up to 30 km from the mouth. The lake is
surrounded by a number of hills such as Dipamundia, Kalijugeswar, Mamubhananja, Salari, Valeri, Jatia and
Ghantasila on its South and West, the Bay of Bengal on its North-East and East and the alluvial plain of Mahanadi
delta on its North. The lakes main body consists of small and big rocky, sandy, muddy or swampy islands, which
adds to the beauty of the lake. The important Islands are Krishnaprasad Gada, Kathapantha, Nuapada, Kalijai Hill,

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 Sagarika Nayak et al.,: Continental J. Applied Sciences 1: 6 - 12, 2010

Barakuda, Chadeihaga, Honeymoon and Nalabana. Krishnaprasad is a bigger island having human settlement and
cultivable lands. The other Islands namely Barunikuda, Malatikuda, Badakuda, Sanakuda are covered with sand
dunes without any settlement. The lake is fed with fresh water by the distributaries of the river Mahanadi, namely
Daya, Bhargavi and Nuna opening into its northern most region and many rivulets and local stream merging with
lake on western region. The lake is connected with Rushikulya river estuary through a man made Palur Canal or
French Canal. The amount of fresh water entering the lake has been estimated as 3,75,000 cusec bringing about 13
million tones of suspended sediments (Mohanty 1988). It has been established that about one million tones of sands
moves along with the east coast of India per year in a northernly direction during south west monsoon periods. The
net literal drift along the Chilika shore being northwards, the Chilika mouth shifts northeasternly. Survey of India
report (1929-30) shows existence of three mouths, two to the north and one to the south of Arakhakuda. Locations
of inlets relative to village Arakhakuda are 1914- 6km NE, 1965- 8km NE, 1986- 4½km NE, 1991- 5½km NE. As a
consequence of the repeated changes in location of mouth, the topography of the lake has altered ultimately
affecting on the water quality and biota of the lake system. For all practical purposes the lake is divided into four
sectors; the Southern Sector, Central Sector, Northern Sector and Outer Channel Area. Jhighran and Natarajan
(1979) divided the Central zone as central-I & II on the basis of capturing fisheries. This lake plays an important
role in the social, economic, political and cultural activities of the people living around it. The fisher folk more than
one lakh from 122 villages in and around the lake primarily depend on fisheries of the lake (Fig-2). The State
Government collects a revenue of about 10 cores of rupees annually from this lake. The lake is well known of the
rich prawn fisheries, which are the main sources of dollar earning item in Orissa. The lake is known all over the
world for its residents and migratory birds (Fig-5) (more than 20 lakhs) comprising of 165 species. The rich Flora
and Fauna, scenic beauty and the famous "Kalijai" temple attract people from all walks of life (Fig-3). Thus Chilika
is considered as one of the Ramsarsite wetland and unique pride of India.

An enormous increase in pollution due to discharge of effluents from industrial units into rivers and lakes is a matter
of great concern in developing countries. Both the developed and developing countries are suffering from different
forms of water pollution. Developed countries which have water pollution problem due to industrial proliferation
and modernized agricultural technologies are now on the way of combating the problems through improved waste
water treatment technique. But developing countries with lack of technical known how, weak implementation of
environmental policies and with limited financial resources is still facing problems. In India different lakes receives
a heavy flux of sewage, industrial effluent, domestic and agricultural wastes (Galloway, 1979 and Gross, 1978)
which consists of varying hazardous chemicals and causing deleterious effects on fish and other aquatic
organisms(Helz, 1976). In addition fishing (Fig-4) and recreational activities in lakes also pollute its water. Coastal
lagoons receive a variety of pollutants from land drainage. Information on the distribution of heavy metals in coastal
lagoon water is essential to assess the accumulation levels in the organism and their possible transfer to food chain,
which governs the fishery potential. The primary sources of heavy metal pollutions in coastal lagoon are input from
rivers, sediments and atmosphere. They may be removed by biological uptake, separation into sedimentary particles
both organic and inorganic and flushing with ocean water (Kremling and Hydes, 1988).

Measurements of metal in aquatic environments are an important monitoring tool to assess the degree of pollution of
the aquatic biotopes (Kumar and Mahadeven, 1995). In aquatic environment metals can be termed as conservative
pollutant, which are added to the environment and persist forever without being broken down to harmless substances
and bacterial action as many organic pollutants are (Sengupta and Kureisly, 1989).

The present article is a part of long term study on the environmental monitoring of Chilika, reports the
concentration of heavy metals in water and sediment and its relationship with physico-chemical character of water
during post-monsoon season.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Water and sediment analysis: Water samples were collected from 10 stations covering an area of 700 km2. Samples
of surface water and sediments were collected using clean acid washed PVC containing and transported to the lab in
an Ice box to avoid contamination. Physico-chemical charters of water were studied in the field using water analysis
kit of CPCD (APHA, 1995). Sediment samples were air dried and sieved through 0.63 u nylon sieve to get a fine

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 Sagarika Nayak et al.,: Continental J. Applied Sciences 1: 6 - 12, 2010

homogenous sample. The processed samples were digested and analyzed in AAS, (APHA, 1995). Following
Vogel’s Quantities analysis method.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Observations on physico-chemical parameters during the study period are presented in Table-1. The temperature of
the lake varied with seasons. The pH of water is alkaline. Dissolved oxygen (DO) of the water varied with
temperature, illumination and different photosynthetic activity of the producers. Parameters viz. conductivity total
alkalinity, total hardness, ionic concentration of calcium, magnesium sulfate, silica, iron, sodium and potassium did
not vary much suggesting the significant influx of organic and inorganic matters from outside. The concentrations of
major parameter related to pollution like BOD, COD, Nitrates, Phosphate varied with seasons and were with
standards prescribed.

The survey of heavy metal content in the water and sediments is of great concern because of its high potential
toxicity to the various biological forms. The results of heavy metal analysis of both sediment and water are given in
Tables-2 & 3. Metal ions and their complex exhibit a wide of the toxicity to the organism that ranges from sub lethal
to lethal depending upon the time of exposure and the prevailing conditions in the ambient water (Goel, 1997).
Some metal such as Cu, Zn and Fe are essential for biological system while Pb, Cd, Cr, Ni, As & Hg are highly
toxic even in low concentration.

Copper is widely distributed and in an essential metal required by all living organizer in some of these, enzyme
systems, but at higher connection it works essentially as pollution. In Chilika lake connection of copper showed
wide variation running 18 ppm to 90ppm. High Cu content in noticed in western region of northern sector and low to
concentration in observed in the outer channel. In all sediments samples copper contact in above desirable limit in
water samples Cu content range from 0.05 mg/1 to 0.29 mg/1 Although Cu content is below desirable limit. Lake
water never used for drinking purpose. The concentration of manganese ranged from 198 ppm to 590 ppm. The
sediments of northern sector close to river mouth and in the central portion of the northern sector contained higher
concentration of Mn. The outer channel is poor in Mn content than main body of the lake. The value of Zn and Cr
ranges from0.185 to 8.21 and 0.01 to 1.41 in surface water and 28-63 (Zn), 10-73 (Cr) in segments. Zn is an
essential metal where as chromium is due to a chlor alkali industries and fishing processing units in the shore of
Chilika lake. Lead is highly toxic metal and its concentration in natural water and sediment (Table-2 and 3). Increase
mainly through pesticide run off from the nearby agricultural lands as well as prawn cultivation areas the varying
quantity of lead is mainly responsible for the higher concentration of lead which at exceeds maximum permissible
limit (2-4 ppm presented by WHO (1984) higher concentration of lead in drinking water causes disruption of
hemoglobin synthesis, enzymes, damage to nervous system, kidney and brain (Walker, 1975). The maximum
allowable concentration of nickel in drinking water is not fixed either by W.H.O., 1971 or by ICMR. But the
recommended maximum concentration of nickel in irrigation water (Kannan, 1991) fixed tobe 0.5mg/l it was found
that all the samples from sediment and water contained nickel much above the permissible level.

The maximum allowable concentration and the permissible concentration of cobalt in drinking water are not fixed
yet. The mean values of cobalt in sediment and water are given in Table-2 and 3. Mercury has been observed in the
sediments of lake Chilika at a range of 89 -228 ppm (Table-2). Mercury shows a homogenous distribution but in the
extreme southern end of south sector, there is a high amount of mercury. The mercury is accumulated due to
discharge of effluent of chlora alkali industry which contains mercury. The recent sediment concentration profiles
for Cu, Zn, Co, Cr, Ni, Pb and Hg are all largely controlled by changes in sediment supply of Bay of Bengal (Boyle
et al., 1998). The major water pollution problem in the area is due to trace metals used in various industries located
in the region. Sediment act as the sink for the most of heavy metals which they reenter the water column by the
various physico-chemical as biological processes. High levels of heavy metals in sediments also reflect the
deposition by the settling of dead planktons and aquatic plants.

The study results from this poorly studied lake of highly disturbed ecosystem with large scale fishing and tourist
activities highlight their important as the conservation areas because of potential threats and sensivity to fluctuating
environmental condition. Levels of heavy metals in the sediments has exide the permissible limit set by WHO,

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however the surface water levels of metals are within the limit. As heavy metals are not decomposed biologically,
they may exist in the lake for a long time and may live to long term health related problems by enter into food chain.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The Authors are thankful to Kalinga Institute of Social Science, K.I.T. Campous, Bhubaneswar, Orissa for providing
necessary facilities. We are also thankful to Sabitri Nahak for typing the manuscript.

REFERENCES
Annandale, N. (ed). (1915-1924). The fauna of Chilika lake. Mem. Ind. Mus. 5(1-13):1-1003.

APHA (American Public Health Association). (1995). Standard methods for the examination of water and
wastewater.19th edition, American public health Association and water pollution control federation, Washington DC.
P.1134.

Boyle, J.E., Mackay, A., W. Rose, N.L. Flower, R.J and Applety, P.G. 1998. Sediment heavy metal record in lake
Baikal: Natural and anthropogenic sources Journal of Paleolimnology 20: 135-150.

Clapham, A.K., Tutin, T.G. and Warburg, E.F. (1981). Excursiion flora of the British Isles (3rd edn) Cambridge:
University Press.

Galloway, J.N. (1979). Alteration of trace metal geochemical cycles due to the marine discharge of waste water
geochemical cosmochemical. Acta. 43:207-218

Goel, P.K. (1997). Water pollution causes, effects and control, new age int. pub. New Delhi. pp. 97-115.

Gross, M.G. (1978). Effects of waste disposal operation in estuaries and the Coastal Ocean. Annual Review For
Earth And Planetary Sciences 6:127-143

Helz, G.R. (1976). Trace element inventory for the northern Chesapeake Bay with emphasis on the influence of
man. Geochmical Cosmochimica, Acta, 40:573-580.

Jhingran, U.G. and Natarajan A.V. (1973). Fishing resources of the Chilika lake and its bearing of fisheries in
adjancent areas of Bay of Bengal. Proc. Symp. Living. Resources of the seas around India. Spl. Pub. CMFRI: 365-
372.

Kannan, K. (1991). Fundamental of environmental pollution. S.chand and Co.ltd., New Delhi.

Kremling, K. and Hydes, D. (1988). summer distribution of dissolved Al, Cd, Co, Cu, Mn and Ni in surface around
British isles, Continental Shelf Research. 8: 89-105.

Kumar, V. and Mahadean, A. (1995). Heavy metal pollution at Tuticoin Coast. Pollution Reaserch. 14: 227-232.

Misra, P. (1970). The Chilika lake, Government of Orissa, Cuttack, P.10.

Shinha, D.K. & Srivastava A.K. (1995).physicochemical characteristics of river sai at rae baneli for premonsoon
period & after the anset of monsoon Indian Env. Prot. 14(5).340-345.

Sengupta, Raw Kureshly, T.W. (1999). Marine pollution bows and potential threas to the Indian marine
environment. (in Ends. Sinha A.K. Rambooja and Viswanthan p.n) water pollution. Conservation and management
Gyanodaya prakashan, nainital, India pp. 165-181.

Vinkataratham, K. (1970). Formation of the Barrier spit and other sand ridges near Chilika lake on the East coast of
India. Marine Geology, Amsterdam, 9(2), 101-116.

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 Sagarika Nayak et al.,: Continental J. Applied Sciences 1: 6 - 12, 2010

W.H.O. (1971). International standards for drinking water. World health organization Geneva.

W.H.O., (1984). Guidelines for drinking water quality. WHO Geneva, 1984 vol.182 Recommended W.H.O.,
Geneva.

Fig 1: Chilika Map Fig: 2 Fishing

Fig3: Tourist using motor boat Fig 4: Fishing using boat

Fig5 Migratory bird Fig 6 Prawn culture

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Table-1: Physico-Chemical Parameters of Chilika Lake Water During Post- Monsoon Season

Stations
Parameters 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Temperature(0C) 28.0 27.3 28.8 29.2 29.0 28.9 29.1 28.6 29.0 29.2
Transparntarency 92.0 52.0 42.0 90.0 88.0 92.0 92.0 78.0 73.8 27.0
(cm)
Depth (cm) 218.0 225.0 178.0 132.0 112.0 123.0 133.0 135.0 140.0 80.0
(pH) 08.0 08.1 08.9 08.0 08.6 08.6 08.5 08.5 09.0 09.0
Total alkalinity 72.0 65.0 75.0 72.0 60.0 48.0 48.0 40.0 40.0 34.0
(mg/l)

Total hardness 230.1 72.5 30.0 33.0 27.3 37.5 43.0 84.0 126.0 82.0
(mg/l)
Salinity (ppt) 07.3 04.0 02.3 02.0 01.8 02.0 03.5 04.2 04.9 06.3
DO (mg/l) 08.3 07.7 06.2 07.5 05.2 05.1 05.3 06.2 06.0 08.5
Nitrate nitrogen 00.5 01.3 03.6 02.1 02.1 01.6 01.6 02.2 01.3 02.1
(mg/l)
Ortho phosphate 05.6 04.0 03.1 08.0 05.1 04.1 06.7 05.2 06.2 06.0
(µg/l)
Silicate (µg/l) 22.5 48.0 49.2 68.3 68.2 80.1 66.1 46.1 37.8 44.8
1. Sea mouth 2. Dolphin site 3. Nalabana 4. Kalijai 5. Rambha 6. Badakuda 7. Sanakuda 8. Ghantisila hll 9.
Krushna prasad 10. Kaliyugeswar

Table-2: Heavy Metals in Sediments of Chilika lake (in mg/L)

Station No Mn Cu Cr Zn Pb Ni Co Hg
1 412 31 10 37 22 62 34 228
2 217 19 45 55 54 101 58 220
3 368 82 22 41 39 90 42 089
4 275 58 24 47 57 162 50 158
5 262 76 73 49 36 103 76 157
6 288 90 26 63 36 118 97 157
7 595 77 44 47 48 141 57 153
8 326 38 57 45 47 129 56 181
9 217 23 28 28 38 095 34 156
10 249 51 42 37 34 97 21 178
MPL(WHO) .05 1.0 1.0 5.0 1.0 0.5 1.0 .05
MPL- Minimum Permissible Level
1. Sea mouth 2. Dolphin site 3. Nalabana 4. Kalijai 5. Rambha 6. Badakuda
7. Sanakuda 8. Ghantisila hll 9. Krushna prasad 10. Kaliyugeswar

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 Sagarika Nayak et al.,: Continental J. Applied Sciences 1: 6 - 12, 2010

Table-3: Heavy Metals in Surface Water of Chilika lake (in mg/L)

Station Cr Cu Co Fe Cd Pb Zn Ni Hg
No.
1 0.07 0.29 0.177 1.1 0.132 0.385 0.247 0.827 BDL
2 0.082 0.172 0.072 1.287 0.132 0.415 0.245 0.507 BDL
3 0.06 0.287 0.072 2.35 0.062 0.21 0.515 0.412 BDL
4 0.01 0.192 0.097 1.335 0.055 0.22 0.232 0.295 BDL
5 1.417 0.23 0.55 10.1 0.092 0.457 8.21 0.665 BDL
6 0.035 0.19 0.141 6.1 0.065 0.212 0.395 0.28 BDL
7 ND 0.08 0.172 2.2 0.077 0.117 0.185 0.33 BDL
8 0.04 0.017 0.065 2.35 0.065 0.14 0.317 0.272 BDL
9 0.03 0.03 0.054 5.33 0.07 0.21 0.255 0.03 BDL
10 0.01 0.05 0.055 2.91 0.08 0.165 0.337 0.01 BDL
BDL- Below Detection Level
1. Sea mouth 2. Dolphin site 3. Nalabana 4. Kalijai 5. Rambha 6. Badakuda 7. Sanakuda 8. Ghantisila hll 9.
Krushna prasad 10. Kaliyugeswar

Received for Publication: 02/09/10

Accepted for Publication: 28/09/10

Corresponding author
Rajani Kanta Sahu
Botany Department, B.J.B. (A) College, Bhubaneswar, Orissa
sahurajani@yahoo.co.in

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