Evaluation of the range of heavy metal concentration and its levels of accumulation in the fish sample of river Savitri at Mahad-midc, MS, India

The use and dispersion of heavy metals has increased vastly during the 20th century and the behavior of metals in theaquatic environment is therefore a matter of rising concern. Metals like all elements are not biodegradable and it can betransformed from one chemical state to another state.The effect of heavy metals pollution and accumulation of heavymetals in the Fishes have been studied with the view to check its ill effects. Sampling method was used for the study. TheWater samples of River Savitri, (Taluka-Mahad, District-Raigad, M.S.) were collected from pre-defined 11 samplingpoints, upstream and downstream. including Mahad MIDC region to check the range of metal pollutants. One of thesampling sites was selected in upstream region, far away from Mahad MIDC to check the existence of metal pollutants inthe river water before its flow through Mahad MIDC area. The site where maximum concentration of all the pollutantswas observed was considered as Potent site. 11 sites studied under the sample survey. The sampling site number 9 (MahadMIDC) shows excessive range of heavy metals compared to other upstream site number 8 and further still lesser at sitenumber 10 in the downstream area of river Savitri. Rest of the sites, under study show the upward stream area where heavymetal range is either within tolerable range or not detected. This shows that Mahad MIDC site number 9 is the Potent sitefor heavy metal contamination. Water samples in triplicates were collected from Potent site every month during study toheavy metals concentration. However fish samples were tested during July, January and March to check the accumulationlevel of heavy metals in different seasons. During the Monsoon season i.e. July to September, the heavy metals range areabove normal range when compared with Standards.. The analytical study shows that the presence of heavy metalsconcentration are more in the month of July and further decreasing in the month of September indicating that the untreatedindustrial effluents are released directly in the River water or even after treatment of industrial effluents at CEPT plant,there exist elevated range of heavy metals in river water. and this itself suggest that there is some problem with the CEPTplant functioning. Fish samples were collected during three different seasons to check the concentration of heavy metals.The analysis have shown that fish samples also have heavy metal range above normal range. Heavy metals like Zinc, Ironare essential, even Fluoride is equally important, but analyses have shown that all these elements have accumulated in thefish body indicating a chance that the accumulated heavy metals can easily enter the Food chain. The results have beendiscussed in the Research Project.