Abstract
Solid waste samples were collected from five small-scale industrial sites inthe National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi. These industrial sitesrepresent the regional spread of the industrial belt in the NCT of Delhi.Solid waste samples were digested using aqua-regia and HF in air tightteflon bombs for the quantitative analysis of heavy metals (Hg, Pb, Cd, Mn,Fe, Ni, Cu and Zn) by GBC model 902 atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Hgwas analysed using hydrid generator attachment. Beside this sequentialextraction was used to fractionate five heavy metals (Pb, Ni, Cd, Cu and Zn)into six operationally defined phases, viz. water soluble, exchangeable,carbonate-bound, Fe-Mn oxides, organic-bound and residual fractions toascertain the relative mobility of these metals. The result obtained showedmetal concentration to be in the range of Hg 0.42–2.3; Pb 23–530; Cd0.14–224; Mn 494–19 964; Fe 35 684–233 119; Ni 192–1534; Cu 3065–10 144and Zn 116–23 321 (all units in mg kg-1) in all the industrialareas studied. The fractionated toxic metals like Pb, Ni and Cd wereobserved to be in the range of 25–35, 15–50 and 40–50%, respectively,in mobile or bio-available fractions of solid waste. As this waste isoften disposed-off by the roadsides, low lying areas, abandoned quarriesor in landfill sites which are often not properly planned, thus posingpotential risk to ground and surface water quality to millions of peopleliving downstream.
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Moturi, M.C.Z., Rawat, M. & Subramanian, V. Distribution and Fractionation of Heavy Metals in Solid Waste from Selected Sites in the Industrial Belt of Delhi, India. Environ Monit Assess 95, 183–199 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:EMAS.0000029900.86810.85
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/B:EMAS.0000029900.86810.85