Abstract

AN ANALYSIS OF HEAVY METALS IN THE TANNERY EFFLUENT POLLUTED WATER BODY AND IN RICINUS COMMUNIS USING ATOMIC ABSORPTION SPECTROSCOPY

Ramesh Krishna M. and *Sheela S.

ABSTRACT

Tannery industries around Chennai do not treat the effluent properly before releasing them into the water bodies which results in the severe pollution of water bodies and hence affects the plants, animals and have adverse effect on our environment. It is well known and studied that tannery effluent may contain heavy metals which could be absorbed by plants. This results in the heavy metal accumulation in plants. The accumulated heavy metals have effects in plants physiological and histological nature. The study aims to analysis the presence of heavy metals in the tannery effluent polluted water body and to analysis the accumulation of heavy metals in the plants that grow along the water bodies. And to analyse the heavy metals distribution in plant‟s root and shoot to estimate the difference in the heavy metal concentration distributed with in a plant. The plant used in the study was Ricinus communis and the location of the study i.e., the water sample and plant sample were collected from Thirunnermalai, an outskirt of Chennai and a town near Chrompet which is known for tannery industries.

Keywords: Water Pollution - Tannery Effluent - Heavy Metals - Ricinus communis Heavy metal Accumulation in Plants - Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy.