Impact Assessment of Heavy Metals Accumulation in Surface Water Bodies in the Adjoining Forest of Shoghi-Shimla-Dhali Bypass of Himachal Pradesh

A study was conducted to investigate the impact of seasonal variation in heavy metals concentration of surface water (streams) sampled by collecting 72 samples during pre-monsoon, monsoon and post-monsoon from four study sites. The heavy metals like Cu, Cd, Cr, Pb, and Ni and As, Hg were estimated using inductively coupled plasma emission spectrometer (ICAP-6300 Duo). The concentrations of all heavy metals were within permissible limit except Hg which was not detected as given by BIS and CPCB. The mean value for heavy metals were Cd (0.011,0.013,0.006 mg/l ), Cr (0.037,0.039,0.024 mg/l ), Pb (0.022,0.024,0.012 mg/l ), Cu (0.035,0.043,0.0024 mg/l ), Ni (0.022,0.026,0.017 mg/l ) and (0.037, 0.041, 0.028 mg/l ) recorded during pre-monsoon, monsoon and post-monsoon. Seasonal variations have significant effect on heavy metal concentration of surface water samples. Road construction material like dirt and debris added heavy metals into adjacent water bodies ultimately degraded the water quality in terms of physico-chemical and biological characteristics.