Abstract:
The metal pollution in water and sediment of the River Hindon in western Uttar Pradesh
(India) was assessed for Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn. The metal concentrations in water showed
wide temporal variation compared with bed sediment because of variability in water discharge and
variations in suspended solid loadings. Metal concentrations in bed sediments provided a better
evaluation of the degree and the extent of contamination in the aquatic environment, Santagarh and
Atali being the most polluted sites of the river. The ratio of heavy metals to conservative elements (Fe,
Al, etc.) may reveal the geochemical imbalances due to the elevated metal concentrations normally
attributed to anthropogenic sources. Metal/Al ratios for the bed sediments of the river Hindon were
used to determine the relative mobility and general trend of relative mobility occurred Fe>Mn>
Zn>Cr>Ni>Pb>Cu>Cd.