METALS CONCENTRATIONS IN THE RIVERINE WATER, SEDIMENTS AND FISHES FROM RIVER RAVI AT BALLOKI HEADWORKS

The river Ravi has been one of the major recipients of industrial effluents and domestic sewage in Punjab. In this study concentrations of heavy metals, such as Fe, Zn, Cu, Cr and Ni were determined in riverine water, sediment and muscle of three fish species, Labeo rohita, Cirrhina mrigala, Catla catla procured from river Ravi at Balloki. The data obtained after water analysis reflected the order of occurrence of heavy metals to be Fe> Zn >Cu > Cr >Ni. The analysis of heavy metals in sediment indicated that among the five heavy metals tested; Fe was maximally accumulated followed by Zn, Cr, Cu and Ni. The trend of heavy metals accumulation in fish muscles was found to be similar to that observed in sediment and water such as Fe> Zn >Cu > Cr >Ni. Data indicated that Fe accumulated maximally in the sediment as well as muscles of the three fish species in comparison to other metals. In water Fe and Cr but in sediment Fe, Cu, Cr, Ni concentrations were significantly higher than some international limits for these metals. Zn, Cu, Cr, Ni values in fish exceeded almost all the international limits. Highest concentrations of all the metals were found in Cirrhina mrigala whereas Catla catla showed lowest accumulation in muscles.