Studies on distribution of heavy metals in Ganga water and its bed sediments along the Patna stretch.

In the present study, the distribution of heavy metals in Ganga water and its bed sediments were studied at three sampling stations along the stretch of Patna. The samples were collected, preserved, digested with HNO3-HClO4 and analyzed by Atomic Absorption Spectrometer (AAS). The heavy metals were not detected in the dissolved form in Ganga water. The reason may be alkaline nature of water. These were detected in trace quantity in Ganga water and its bed sediments samples as total metals. The heavy metals exist in the aqueous phase due to their absorption on particulate. The sources may be attributed to geo-chemical transformation, weathering of soils and anthropogenic activities. The presence of heavy metals in the bed sediments and in the suspended phase indicates that Ganga riverine system acts as both carrier and sink for heavy metals in trace levels.