The Godavari is the largest river of peninsular India and receives a significant quantity of pollutants from diverse sources, including many industries, urban developments and agricultural fields. Such pollution is more prominent in the upper stretch of the river. This work aimed to assess the water and sediment contaminations of River Godavari for the presence of trace metals Cd, Cr, Cu, Mn, Pb and Zn. Samples were collected from 10 sampling stations covering the entire stretch of the river. Sediment pollution characteristics and potential ecological risks were evaluated by calculating contamination factor, degree of contamination, pollution load index, geo-accumulation, and the potential ecological risk index. Pearson's correlation analysis and principal component analysis were used to predict the probable sources of heavy metals. The concentrations of studied heavy metals in water were mostly observed below the detection limit using the flame mode of an Atomic Absorption Spectroscope and recorded safe for the biotic community. The mean concentrations of metals in the sediments were calculated and also recorded to be safe with respect to the guideline values of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA, 1999). However, the sampling site-specific calculated contamination factors indicated moderate contamination of some of the stretches as: S1 for the presence of Cu, Mn, Zn; S2 for Cu, Zn; S3 and S4 for Cu; S5 for the dominance of Mn. The rest of the sites were free from sediment metal contaminations. The degree of contamination values specified S2 as moderately contaminated. Pollution load index indicated sites S1 and S2 as contaminated. Both geo-accumulation and potential ecological risk index designated lower levels of pollution in the river owing to sediment metal contaminations. Furthermore, a comparison of the heavy metal concentrations with sediment quality guidelines signified that the heavy metal pollutions (Cu, Cr, Mn and Zn) tend to pose occasional harmful effects on the ecosystem. From Pearson's correlation analysis and principal component analysis, two main sources of metal pollution were predicted. The Cu, Cr and Zn contaminants were mainly derived from human activities and Mn from natural sources as well as human activities.

中文翻译：

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印度戈达瓦里河水和沉积物中重金属污染的评估

戈达瓦里河是印度半岛最大的河流，接收来自不同来源的大量污染物，包括许多工业、城市发展和农业领域。这种污染在河流上游更为突出。这项工作旨在评估戈达瓦里河的水和沉积物污染中是否存在痕量金属 Cd、Cr、Cu、Mn、Pb 和 Zn。从覆盖整条河流的 10 个采样站采集样本。通过计算污染因子、污染程度、污染负荷指数、地质积累和潜在生态风险指数，评价泥沙污染特征和潜在生态风险。Pearson相关分析和主成分分析用于预测重金属的可能来源。使用原子吸收光谱仪的火焰模式观察到水中所研究的重金属浓度大多低于检测限，并记录下来对生物群落是安全的。根据美国环境保护署 (USEPA, 1999) 的指导值，计算并记录沉积物中金属的平均浓度是安全的。然而，特定采样点计算的污染因子表明，一些区域存在中度污染，例如： S1 表示存在铜、锰、锌；S2 代表铜、锌；S3 和 S4 用于 Cu；S5为Mn占主导地位。其余地点没有沉积物金属污染。污染程度值将 S2 指定为中度污染。污染负荷指数表明站点 S1 和 S2 被污染。由于沉积物金属污染，地质积累和潜在生态风险指数均表明河流的污染水平较低。此外，重金属浓度与沉积物质量指南的比较表明，重金属污染（Cu、Cr、Mn 和 Zn）往往会对生态系统造成偶尔的有害影响。通过 Pearson 相关分析和主成分分析，预测了金属污染的两个主要来源。铜、铬、锌污染物主要来源于人类活动，锰来源于自然资源和人类活动。重金属浓度与沉积物质量指南的比较表明，重金属污染（Cu、Cr、Mn 和 Zn）往往会对生态系统造成偶尔的有害影响。通过 Pearson 相关分析和主成分分析，预测了金属污染的两个主要来源。铜、铬、锌污染物主要来源于人类活动，锰来源于自然资源和人类活动。重金属浓度与沉积物质量指南的比较表明，重金属污染（Cu、Cr、Mn 和 Zn）往往会对生态系统造成偶尔的有害影响。通过 Pearson 相关分析和主成分分析，预测了金属污染的两个主要来源。铜、铬、锌污染物主要来源于人类活动，锰来源于自然资源和人类活动。