Assessment of Physico‐Chemical Parameters and Heavy Metal Contamination in Industrial Effluent of SIDCUL: A Case Study of Haridwar

This study analyzes heavy metal contamination in the industrial effluent released from SIDCUL (Haridwar), India, through ICP‐MS. This study focuses on the availability of toxic metals such as cadmium (Cd), arsenic (As), lead (Pb), chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), and tin (Sn) in the effluent sample across the years 2022–2024. The research aimed to quantify the concentrations of these heavy metals and assess their potential environmental impact. The comparative analysis of identified heavy metal concentrations in effluent water reveals notable year‐to‐year fluctuations across 2022–2024. In 2022, the levels of arsenic and iron were recorded as 69.73 and 302.73 μg/L, respectively, with undetectable manganese concentration. The following year, in 2023, arsenic and iron concentrations showed slight variations, with arsenic increasing to 76.16 μg/L and iron slightly decreasing to 292.04 μg/L. Additionally, zinc was detected at 59.52 μg/L, whereas manganese remained undetectable. By 2024, however, a significant escalation in contaminant levels was observed as arsenic sharply increased to 162.14 μg/L, and iron climbed to 747.34 μg/L. New contaminants, including chromium at 399.41 μg/L, cadmium (Cd) at 10.66 μg/L, and tin (Sn) at 20.96 μg/L, were also detected, surpassing the recommended metal regulatory limits set by the World Health Organization (WHO). These findings indicate a potential risk of metal contamination to local water resources, the health of living organisms, and the environment.