Heavy Metals Contamination and its potential Health Risk with special reference to Narmada River at Nimar Region of Madhya Pradesh

In the present work, water samples were collected monthly from October 2007 to August 2008 in triplicate, totaling 165 water samples. The five sampling locations were: the Omkareshwar Ghat (OG), Maheshwar Ghat (MGI); Mandleshwar Ghat (MG2); Navda Todi (NT), and Punasa Dam (PD). The levels of As, Be, Ca, Cd, Co, Cu, Cr, Fe, Li, Mg, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sb, Se, Sr, Ti, Ta, V and Zn were measured by using atomic absorption spectroscopy. In addition, temperature, pH, electrical conductivity and total and fecal coliformes were determined. The statistical analysis considered a factorial treatment design; where factor A was the location point and factor B was sampling date. In addition, a multivariate technique looking for principal components was performed. Overall, the results confirmed that this stretch of the Narmada river is contaminated with heavy metals and other contaminants that might affect human health as well as the health of the ecosystem.