Assessment of hydrocarbons and heavy metal pollution in Dal Lake Kashmir

Abstract

This study is the first study of microplastic pollution in Dal lake, Jammu and newlineKashmir. The increased density of microplastics at the sites receiving STP waste (site- newlineIII, IV) and domestic waste (site- III) suggests that the microplastics are sourced from newlinethe residential population and the untreated waste water entering the lake water. newlineEffects of microplastics in fish were also analyzed, during this study. It was observed newlinethat microplastics in both the fish samples got accumulated over the gills. newlineThe fish species fed with microplastics was analyzed for the effect of microplastics on newlinethe gene level in which two genes Glutathione S transferase and Cytochrome P450 newlinewere investigated. The levels of Glutathione S transferase levels were significantly newlineelevated in the liver of fish exposed to the concentration of 80 mg/l microplastics. newlineThe water of Dal lake was also analyzed for the level s percentage of heavy newlinemetals. The range of heavy metals followed a trend as Pbgt Zn gt Cu gt Hg. These newlineheavy metals get accumulated in aquatic organisms over a period of time causing their newlinedeath, two species of fish, Common carp (Cyprinus carpio) and Schizo carp newline(Schizothorax niger) were investigated for heavy metals. newlineThe fish Cyprinus carpio fed with Lead (Pb) were exposed to X-Ray that showed that newlinethe spine of the fishes had bent near the tail due to prolonged Lead exposure. This newlinestudy was carried out to determine the effect of the concentrations on survival newlinepercentages and the effect on the physiology of fish under report. newlineDal lake is purely an urban lake which has been degraded enormously due to human newlineinterference. During these years it has witnessed tremendous changes in terms of newlinewater quality. Various Physico-chemical parameters were investigated in this study newlineand it was found that over a period of time water quality of Dal lake has been newlinedeteriorated due to wastes of all sort which makes the water unfit for human newlineconsumption. newline newlineKey-Words: Microplastics; water quality; heavy metals; pollution; assessment;