Lead pollution in soil, water and plants due to automobile emission in urban environments in Coimbatore
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Author:L. VIDHYA1, M. DHANDAPANI2, M. SEKAR2 AND S. MAHIMAIRAJA3
p-ISSN:0024-9602, e-ISSN:2582-5321, Vol:94, Issue:jan-jun
DOI: https://doi.org/10.29321/MAJ.10.100638
Abstract
The soil, water and plants of urban and suburban of Coimbatore city showed
high concentration of Pb. The soil samples from Coimbatore urban areas, especially
along the road sides of National Highways, showed higher pH and EC. A high level
(2.11 dSm-1) of EC was noticed in Gandhi Park II location. Lead contents of soils also
showed higher accumulation. A maximum of 141.2 mg kg-1 was recorded at MTP Road
VI location viz., Goundampalayam Union Road. Water samples also showed higher pH
and EC than the acceptable limits. An unusual high level of 2.87 dSm-1 of EC was
recorded at MTP Road III location. High concentration of Pb was observed in the
water samples. Most of the samples exceeded the maximum permissible limit of Pb
(0.1 mg l-1) fixed for drinking water. Most of the predominant species of the plants
were found to have accumulated higher amounts (up to 110 mg kg-1) of Pb in Coimbatore
urban
Key words : Lead pollution, soil, water, plants