Chemical Contaminants and Toxicity of Ganga River Sediment from Up and Down Stream Area at Kanpur

The objective of this study was the sediment quality assessment of Ganga River at Kanpur city where effluents from tannery industries are discharged. Sediment samples from upstream and downstream area were collected and analyzed for trace metals and toxicity bioassay. Among various trace metals examined Cr in downstream sediment was 30-fold higher than in upstream sediment and its concentration was above the probable effect level. In general trace metals in the downstream sediment were found higher compared to reported earlier. Seed germination bioassay revealed negligible effect on the growth of root but the shoot growth was stunted in seeds exposed to downstream sediments. Trace metals determined in sediment elutriate showed poor elution of metals in aqueous phase but elutriates exerted toxic effects on both root and shoot growth, suggesting presence of other bioavailable toxic factor associated with sediment. The study revealed that seed germination bioassay may be used to differentiate contaminated and uncontaminated sediment.