Indian Journal of Crop Science

The unscientific disposal of untreated or under treated effluents result in accumulation of heavy metals in land and water bodies. Accumulation of these heavy metals in soil, water bodies may pose threat to human as well as animal life through their entry in food chain. An attempt has been made to account the accumulation of heavy metals in water bodies and soil due to overflowing of sewage-fed canal water and in crop plant grown in Dankuni basin area of Hooghly district, West Bengal. Water, soil and plant samples have been analyzed for some quality parameters and heavy metals, viz. Zn, Cu, Ni, Pb and Cr. The results show that on the basis of RSC value all the water sources were found to be unsafe for irrigation purpose. Comparing the results of heavy metals in water, soil and vegetation with their respective natural levels, it is observed that impact of loading of heavy metals is more in water than in soil and crops due to lesser degree of their bioavailability in soil. However, the impact of entry of these heavy metals into the food chain leading to potential health hazard needs to be monitored.