Vol. 11, Issue 12 (2022)

Author(s):
AD Chikhalikar, BN Ramteke, NR Karambele, SD Ingole, MP Sawane, RJ Zende and SD Jagadale

Abstract:
The present study was conducted to assess heavy metals contents like arsenic (As), lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), copper (Cu), chromium (Cr) and zinc (Zn) in drinking water for animals. Total 70 samples were collected from different location under urban, semi-urban and rural areas of Konkan region of Maharashtra. Water samples were taken from a borewell, a well, and a canal/ river and other source like municipal water supply etc. that the animals utilized for drinking water. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS) was used to analyse the samples. Results were compared with the standards set by WHO (1998), EU (2020) and BIS (2012). The results indicated that arsenic, lead concentration in water were found to be near to the MRL value quoted by WHO (1998), EU (2020) and well below the levels recommended by BIS (2012). Further the levels of cadmium, mercury, copper, chromium and zinc were below the recommended maximum residual levels of WHO (1998), EU (2020), and BIS (2012) standards. It was also observed that the concentration of heavy metals were significantly higher in water source in urban and semi-urban areas than rural areas. To prevent health risks of dairy animals and ultimately human life it is necessary to monitor the level of heavy metals in water on regular basis.