Ecological Indicators 43 (2014) 262270

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Ecological Indicators
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Heavy metals distribution, risk assessment and water quality
characterization by water quality index of the River Soan, Pakistan
Summiya Nazeer
a
, Muhammad Zaffar Hashmi
b
, Riffat Naseem Malik
a,
a
Environmental Biology and Ecotoxicology Laboratory, Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Quaid-i-AzamUniversity,
Islamabad, PO 45320, Pakistan
b
Department of Environmental Engineering, College of Environmental and Resource Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310029, Peoples Republic of
China
a r t i c l e i n f o
Article history:
Received 14 October 2013
Received in revised form6 March 2014
Accepted 12 March 2014
Keywords:
Sediments and water
Enrichment factor
Geo-accumulation index
WQI
Heavy metals
a b s t r a c t
Distribution of heavy metals, nutrients and some physico-chemical variables were studied in water,
suspended and bed sediment samples along River Soan and its tributaries during pre- and post-monsoon
seasons. Nutrient loading in water samples were relatively high during pre-monsoon season while metal
concentrations were found to be high during post-monsoon season. Water quality as determined by
water quality index (WQI) was found to be relatively better during the pre-monsoon season. Ni, Pb and
Cd concentrations were found to be higher than recommended for water use for domestic or aquatic
life. Metal concentrations were relatively high in the suspended sediment samples as compared to the
bed sediment samples. I
geo
results indicated that bed and suspended sediment samples were moderately
contaminated with Cd while Ni, Cu and Cr showed moderate contamination in the suspended sediment
samples. Further, results indicated that contamination sources in the bed (Cd, Zn and Pb) and suspended
(Cd, Zn, Ni, Cu and Cr) sediment samples were from natural processes and anthropogenic activities.
According to the classication carried out on the basis of EF, the bed sediment samples were signicantly
contaminated with Cd and moderately contaminated with Pb and Zn. While Cd, Pb, Ni, Cu and Cr showed
signicant contamination and Zn showed moderate contamination in the suspended sediment samples.
Potential risk index revealed moderate ecological risk in the suspended sediment samples of urban areas.
The results suggested that Cd, Zn and Pb threats to aquatic ecosystem should not be ignored.
2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
1. Introduction
Aquatic ecosystems have been affected by various types of con-
taminations round the globe in the recent few years. Trace metals
are one of the most common pollutants which have severely dete-
riorated the aquatic ecosystems (Ali et al., 2013). Their release in
aquatic ecosystemis triggered by both natural and anthropogenic
processes (Zhang et al., 2009). Once released into the rivers, they
may get either dissolved to formions or complexes, suspended as
particulate matter or settled down as bed sediments (Tuna et al.,
2007). Trace metals may cause serious ecological threat through
bioaccumulation if get a chance to enter food chain (Segura et al.,
2006). Increase in concentration of toxic metals beyond toxic lim-
its results in loss of water quality making water unt for drinking,

Corresponding author. Tel.: +92 5190643017.

E-mail address: r n malik2000@yahoo.co.uk (R.N. Malik).
irrigation, aquaculture and recreational purposes (Zhang et al.,
2009). Restoration and conservation of surface water resources is
thus necessary for the sake of their inevitable role in sustaining
both aquatic and terrestrial life.
Suspended and bed sediments are considered as most sensitive
indicator of trace metals as they act as sink for metals due to their
ability to absorb dissolved metals and can act as non-point source
of trace metal by releasing them to water column when under-
goes physico-chemical changes (Karbassi et al., 2008; Sharma and
Subramanian, 2010). Assessment of bed sediments quality is often
considered as most crucial in determining anthropogenic input of
trace metals in aquatic ecosystems due to their long residence time
hence capable of reecting history of pollution in aquatic ecosys-
tems (Tuna et al., 2007). However temporal variations in metals
could be better evaluated by analyzing metals in dissolved and
suspended forms. An effective water management programshould
therefore be based on the evaluation of distribution of trace metals
among different phases in an aquatic environment (Davide et al.,
2003).
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2014.03.010
1470-160X/ 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
S. Nazeer et al. / Ecological Indicators 43 (2014) 262270 263
Current study is based on the distribution of trace metals in
dissolved and sediments in both suspended and settled forms in
River Soan which drains one of the highly urbanized catchments
of Pakistan. Nutrient enrichment due to huge sewage inux from
urbanareas and other physico-chemical factors affecting the distri-
bution of trace metals in water and bed sediments have also been
discussed with the aim to identify the potential sources of trace
metals in riverine ecosystemof River Soan.
2. Materials and methods
2.1. Study area
Study area exhibits diverse lithological features basedmainly on
limestone, shale, continental sandstones andclaybelongtoeocene,
miocene epoch, pliocene and lower pliestocene ages. Surcial units
of geology were formed during Pliocene and Holocene ages and are
composed of Lei conglomerates chiey composed of limestone and
Potohar clay composed of quartz, feldspar, kaolinite and illite while
terrace alluvium, alluviumand windblown silt, ood plain, fan and
streamchannel alluviumare some other geological surcial units.
River Soan has its origin in lower Himalayan foothills and drains
one of ve major physical divisions of Pakistan, the Potohar Plateau.
Study area extended from 71

45

to 73

35

in east and 32

45

to
33

55

in north (Fig. 1). River Kurang, River Ling and Nallah Lei
are the main tributaries of River Soan. River Soan ultimately joins
River Indus near Makhad village, District Attock after traversing
throughcapital cityof Islamabadandthreedistricts locatedinnorth
of Punjab province which include Rawalpindi, Chakwal and Attock.
2.2. Sampling and analysis
Water and sediment samples were collected from 18 samp-
ling located on the River and its tributaries during pre-monsoon
(AprilMay) and post-monsoon season (SeptemberOctober) in
2008 (Fig. 1). Water samples were collected from 25cm depth
where applicable using grab method. Different parameters like
temperature, pH, DO, TDS, electrical conductivity and salinity
were recorded in the eld using portable Hydrolab Surveyor (MS
5 Surveyor Hach Environmental) and turbidity was measured
with 2100P turbidmeter (HACH). All samples were transported
in bottles pre-washed with HNO
3
, bottles were stored in ice
boxes conserved at 4

C. Water samples were analyzed for differ-

ent analysis in laboratory. Analyses conducted in lab were CO
2
elimination (titration method), alkalinity (acidbase titrometry),
chlorides (silver-nitrate titrometry), CODkits (HACHspectrometric
methodology), total phosphorous (alkaline persulphate digestion),
total nitrogen (alkaline persulphate digestion), orthophosphates
(ammonium molybdate method), nitrate-nitrogen (phenol disul-
phonic method), ammonia-nitrogen (phenate method), sulphates
(barium chloride method) as described previously (Allen and
Hansen, 1996). Water samples were ltered through Whatman
lter paper for estimation of dissolved metals and acidied with
nitric acid to adjust pH <2 in order to preserve samples (Sadeghi
et al., 2012). Water samples were run on fast sequential Atomic
absorption spectrometer for analysis of dissolved metals.
Suspended sediment samples were collected by ltering the
water samples through Whatman lters paper (Sadeghi et al.,
2012). Metals were extracted from suspended sediment samples
using microwave assisted digestion of lter papers carried out
using 13.5mL of HNO
3
and 4.5mL HCl and adjusting temperature
at 1805

C while power of 1200W was provided during diges-

tion. Digested samples were ltered and volume was adjusted with
distilled water up to 50mL.
Surface sediment samples were collected at the places where
water owwas lowand transported to the lab in pre cleaned poly-
thene bags (Suthar et al., 2009). Samples were air-dried, ground,
sievedthrough2mmsizedsieve to remove debris, stones andother
coarse structures and stored in cleaned polythene bags. Samples
were analyzed for particle size as described previously (Palmer
and Troeh, 1977) and textural classes were determined by using
textural triangle. Tyurins method (NIKOLSKII, 1964) was used to
determine OMin sediment samples. Solution of sediment samples
was prepared in a ratio of 1:10 to determine soil pH using portable
pHmeter (Milwaukee, model SM802). Acidextractionusing H
2
SO
4
was carried out in order to extract orthophosphates fromthe sedi-
ment samples while copper sulphate extraction was carried out for
nitrate extraction fromsediments. Ammoniummolybdate method
was usedfor determinationof orthophosphates while phenol disul-
phonic method was used for the determination of nitrates.
For acid digestion, 90.1mL concentrated nitric acid and
30.1mL of concentrated hydrochloric acid were added to 0.5g
of the sediment samples placed in Teon tubes. Rate of change
in temperature was adjusted to 2205

C and 1200W of power

was provided. Digested samples were cooled down and ltered
through Whatman lter paper no. 42 and diluted up to 50mL. Con-
centration of metals was determined through calibration curve of
standard solutions using Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (Vari-
ance FSS-240).
2.3. Water quality index (WQI)
Water qualityindex(WQI) was developedonthe basis of Alberta
River Water Quality Index (Alberta WQI 2007) and Guideline Com-
pliance Index (GCI) (Kotze, 2008) using following equations.
WQI = 100
_
_
F
2
1
+F
2
2
+F
2
3
1.732
_
(1)
where
F1 =
_
Number of water variables that do not meet objective
Total number of water varibles
_
100 (2)
F2 =
_
Number of test that do not meet objective
Total number of tests
_
100 (3)
F3 =
_
nse
0.01nse +0.01
_
(4)
where
nse (normalized sumof excursions) =

n
i=1
departure
number of tests
(5)
Here, departure is the number of times by which an individual
concentration is greater than or less than the objective (reference
value).
If the test value does not exceed objective then departure will
be calculated as:
departure
i
=
_
Failed test
i
Objective
j
_
1 (6)
If the test value does not fall belowobjective thendeparture will
be calculated as:
departure
i
=
_
Objective
j
Failed test
i
_
1 (7)
WQI score was scaled from 0 to 100 whereas, each site was
classied into one of ve quality classes, e.g. excellent (>80), good
(6080), fair (4060) and poor (<40).
Potential risk index (RI) reects the collective effects of differ-
ent pollutants in the sediments and quantitatively measure the
264 S. Nazeer et al. / Ecological Indicators 43 (2014) 262270
Fig. 1. Map of the study area illustrating the locations of sampling sites along River Soan and its tributaries.
ecological risk caused by different pollutants (Hakanson, 1980).
Methodology proposed by Hakanson (1980) was followed to assess
potential ecological risk of different heavy metal in bed and sus-
pended sediments.
Calculation of contamination factor (C
f
) is the rst step toward
the estimation of RI. Following is the equation to measure C
f
C
f
=
C
n
C
b
where C
n
is the concentration of metal n in the sediments and
C
b
is the pre industrial background concentration adopted from
Hakanson (1980) of that metal in the sediments.
Contamination caused by heavy metals in suspended and bed
sediments are assessed by geoaccumulation index (I
geo
) (Muller,
1969).
I
geo
= log 2
_
C
n
1.5B
n
_
where C
n
is the concentration of metal n in the sediment, B
n
is
the geochemical background concentration of metal n, factor 1.5
is used for possible lithological variations in the background value
based on Shale value reported previously (Turekian and Wedepohl,
1961).
Enrichment factor was usedtoinvestigate the degree of contam-
ination and possible input of metals from anthropogenic sources
(Ergin et al., 1991).
EF =
(M/Fe) Sample
(M/Fe) Shale value
where EF, enrichment factor, (M/Fe) sample is the ratioof particular
metal to iron concentration in the sample, (M/Fe) shale value is the
ratio of particular metal to iron concentration in the earth crust.
Based on the C
f
measured from above equation and toxic
response factor (T
r
) adopted from Hakanson (1980) for particular
metal concentration in the sediments, ecological risk factor (E
r
) is
calculated using following equation.
E
r
= C
f
T
r
Finally, the risk index (RI) is calculated summing the ecological
factors calculated for each heavy metal.
RI =

E
r
3. Results and discussion
3.1. Physico-chemistry of water of River Soan
Physico-chemical variations of Soan River water along spatio-
temporal scales is described in Table 1. Heavy metals, TP, TN and
S
.

N
a
z
e
e
r

e
t

a
l
.

/

E
c
o
l
o
g
i
c
a
l

I
n
d
i
c
a
t
o
r
s

4
3

(
2
0
1
4
)

2
6
2

2
7
0

2
6
5
Table 1
Physico-chemistry of water samples collected fromRiver Soan and its tributaries during Pre Monsoon and Post Monsoon (salinity and EC are given here as ppt and mS cm
1
respectively while all others parameters except pH are
presented in mg L
1
).
Samples Alk Chl COD PO
4
3
TP SO
4
2
NO
3
2
TN NH
3
pH EC Sal DO Cd Zn Pb Fe Mn Co Ni Cu Cr
1
a
40 54.6 26 0.05 2.1 84.6 5.02 17.3 0.07 8.8 0.4 0.17 9.94 BDL 0.015 0.65 0.02 0.04 0.02 BDL 0.02 0.01
1
b
145 67.5 1.9 0.01 0.2 27.4 2.25 2.1 0.03 8.3 0.6 0.22 10.1 BDL 0.009 0.33 0.08 0.05 0.08 0.28 0.07 0.09
2
a
20 54.6 38 0.26 1.2 26.8 4.72 12.7 0.03 9.5 0.5 0.24 8.67 BDL 0.056 1.03 BDL BDL 0.07 0.17 0.01 0.07
2
b
210 35.7 3.8 0.09 0.4 9.9 4.61 4.4 0.55 8.5 0.7 0.25 9.9 BDL 0.005 BDL BDL BDL 0.16 0.35 0.2 0.1
3
a
220 42.2 12.4 0.04 1 61.7 1.00 1.2 0.04 8.8 0.6 0.33 8.03 0.004 0.021 0.65 0.06 0.02 0.08 0.2 0.003 0.05
3
b
156 21.8 BDL BDL 0.3 76.5 5.86 2.2 0.15 8.1 0.9 0.36 9.3 0.014 0.021 BDL BDL BDL 0.002 0.38 0.23 0.03
4
a
70 57.1 32 0.04 1 7.2 5.09 19.0 0.10 9.3 0.4 0.19 9.43 0.004 0.027 0.08 0.11 0.03 0.03 0.09 0.003 0.02
4
b
156 43.7 4.6 BDL 0.1 14.7 1.25 4.5 0.03 8.2 0.6 0.23 9.9 0.101 0.021 0.15 BDL BDL 0.15 0.28 BDL 0.08
5
a
80 54.6 30 0.04 0.6 49.6 4.77 27.3 BDL 9.4 0.5 0.23 8.75 0.001 0.023 0.27 0.12 BDL 0.08 0.2 0.02 0.06
5
b
192 13.9 6.5 0.04 0.3 27.5 19.7 5.2 0.38 8.5 0.7 0.43 10.1 0.019 0.083 BDL BDL BDL 0.13 0.37 0.2 0.07
6
a
50 54.6 110 0.06 1.2 42.1 4.77 35.5 0.05 9.4 0.4 0.21 9.41 BDL BDL 0.29 0.27 0.05 0.1 0.17 0.03 0.05
6
b
230 77.5 14 0.06 0.3 10.9 3.47 5.0 0.47 8.5 0.8 0.37 13.2 BDL 0.002 BDL BDL BDL 0.14 0.35 0.2 0.09
7
a
110 69.5 42 0.10 2.4 44.3 4.82 8.2 0.05 8.3 0.4 0.19 9.03 BDL BDL 0.15 BDL 0.03 0.03 0.06 0.01 0.04
7
b
140 57.6 13 0.11 0.4 12.8 11.7 3.4 0.15 8.7 0.7 0.33 7.5 BDL 0.017 0.26 0.01 0.04 0.11 0.25 0.09 0.08
8
a
210 49.7 108 0.11 1.3 58.7 6.61 2.1 0.03 8.5 0.5 0.26 9.41 BDL 0.019 BDL 0.19 BDL 0.06 0.14 0.008 0.05
8
b
276 27.8 1.3 0.03 0.4 44.4 1.03 4.2 0.18 7.8 0.6 0.28 10.2 0.007 0.024 0.09 0.11 0.06 0.12 0.33 0.18 0.03
9
a
120 59.6 112 0.12 1.3 39.7 4.61 9.5 0.04 9.2 0.6 0.29 8.69 0.009 0.016 0.33 0.14 BDL 0.09 0.22 0.04 0.05
9
b
230 32 2.7 0.01 0.3 27.9 25.8 3.1 0.32 8.2 0.9 0.32 9.2 0.004 0.026 BDL 0.02 0.01 BDL 0.07 0.02 0.02
10
a
230 82 192 2.24 2.1 110 4.77 15.9 BDL 8.8 1 0.51 3.29 BDL 0.005 0.09 0.14 0.14 0.03 0.16 0.008 0.08
10
b
450 159 96 1.96 2.2 106 3.86 15.7 5.29 7.8 1.6 0.64 4.5 0.011 0.021 0.1 0.29 0.13 0.11 0.38 0.16 0.04
11
a
330 69.5 56 2.22 2.7 80.2 4.99 17.0 0.04 8.4 0.9 0.5 3.53 BDL 0.002 0.21 0.07 0.03 0.04 0.11 0.004 0.05
11
b
388 43.7 63 1.80 2.3 189 2.59 12.4 5.87 7.9 1.2 0.48 4.1 0.006 0.035 0.24 0.22 0.13 0.12 0.37 0.19 0.03
12
a
460 117 356 2.87 5 75.6 0.39 37.2 2.32 8.3 1 0.53 0.12 0.002 0.023 0.94 0.15 0.1 0.11 0.24 0.02 0.05
12
b
364 67.5 211 3.20 5 78.8 56.2 15.6 15.98 7.5 1.6 0.66 0.8 0.001 0.028 0.13 BDL 0.13 0.14 0.36 0.23 0.02
13
a
390 74.5 64 1.17 2.3 BDL 4.93 25.1 0.02 8.7 1 0.5 0.13 0.006 0.033 0.64 0.2 0.15 0.08 0.22 0.004 0.06
13
b
224 61.6 61 2.14 2.3 57.2 1.13 6.2 21.12 7.8 1.3 0.55 1 0.011 0.025 BDL 0.02 0.1 0.13 0.42 0.22 0.03
14
a
70 59.6 58 0.07 1.1 39.7 4.90 15.2 0.26 8.7 0.5 0.27 2.914 0.003 0.013 0.4 0.04 0.11 0.02 0.09 0.01 0.02
14
b
196 51.6 8 0.01 0.8 26.3 35.4 31.6 0.18 7.8 0.7 0.26 6.6 0.001 0.021 0.24 0.37 0.02 0.09 0.24 0.1 0.09
15
a
290 91.9 84 0.69 1.6 66.9 4.87 16.4 BDL 8.9 1 0.53 5.78 0.003 0.024 0.22 0.02 0.08 0.04 0.08 0.01 0.02
15
b
172 83.5 16 0.59 0.7 23.4 4.67 13.3 0.29 8.1 0.9 0.32 8.9 0.003 0.007 0.05 0.12 BDL 0.11 0.35 0.11 0.08
16
a
240 96.9 118 1.65 2.6 79.7 4.89 29.4 0.04 9.3 1.1 0.58 14.72 BDL 0.016 0.12 0.07 0.03 0.02 0.08 0.01 0.02
16
b
216 85.4 37 1.32 1.8 82.8 71.5 11.7 0.38 8 1.2 0.47 7.9 0.001 0.022 0.47 BDL 0.01 0.13 0.29 0.129 0.09
17
a
160 129 194 0.54 1.3 112.9 4.93 29.7 0.13 9.2 1.6 0.56 12.32 BDL 0.007 0.5 0.19 BDL 0.07 0.15 0.02 0.03
17
b
203 75 94 0.23 0.6 79.3 20.7 15.0 1.57 9.3 0.7 0.29 19.5 0.001 0.023 0.27 0.13 BDL 0.13 0.34 0.16 0.1
18
a
210 124 62 0.44 1.2 55 5.09 37.3 0.88 9 1 0.51 10.22 BDL 0.01 0.45 0.06 0.02 0.01 0.14 0.02 0.05
18
b
108 63.6 99 0.14 0.5 73.7 2.18 22.2 0.70 9.7 0.6 0.3 20 0.002 0.044 0.22 0.23 BDL 0.11 0.37 0.15 0.09
Public Supply 250 400 10 6.58.5 1.3 >4 0.05 5 0.05 0.1 1.5 0.05
Recreational 400 1 6.58.5 4 0.01 15 0.01 1.5 0.05
Aquatic life 1 6.58.5 >5 0.002 0.086 0.01 0.3 0.1 0.005 0.007 0.05
Irrigation 100 6.58.4 >4 0.01 2 0.1 5 0.2 0.2 0.01
US EPA Drinking 0.005 2 0.015 0.3 NA 0.1 1.3 0.1
US EPA Aquatic life
protection
0.005 3.6 0.014 NA NA 0.145 0.004 0.16
WHO 0.003 3 0.01 0.3 0.4 0.2 2 0.05
BDL represents belowdetection limits, NA represents not available, a represents Pre Monsoon samples and b re represents Post Monsoon samples.
266 S. Nazeer et al. / Ecological Indicators 43 (2014) 262270
Fig. 2. Spatio-temporal variations in nutrients, pH, heavy metals and WQI in water of River Soan.
S. Nazeer et al. / Ecological Indicators 43 (2014) 262270 267
WQI were signicantly different in the River Soan water sam-
ples between seasons and among points. Results indicated that
high concentration of TP was found at the sites (sampling sites
1015 and specically 12 located Nallah Lei) located in the urban
areas while TN was higher at those sites located in the urban
areas (sampling sites 1415), and the sites that drained agriculture
runoff (sampling sites 47, 1618) (Fig. 2). Nitrogen and phos-
phorus are the main factors leading to water blooms and are also
important indices for evaluation reservoirs degrees of eutrophi-
cation. Generally, when TP and TN concentrations in water reach
0.02 and 0.2mg L
1
, respectively, from a single nutrient factor
view, algal blooms may occur. In the present work, TP concen-
tration were above 0.02mg L
1
during pre-monsoon season (2, 4,
8, 9, 11, 12, 13 and 18) and post-monsoon season at the site 2,
4 and 1118, indicating the risk of algal blooms in the reservoir
water as reported previously (Leigh et al., 2010). The results sug-
gested that high nutrient loadings at the urban sites are attributed
to the discharge of sewage waste from twin cities of Rawalpindi
and Islamabad (Mustapha et al., 2013). Temporally, nutrient load-
ings were relatively lower during post monsoon season which
is most likely due to the dilution effect of rain in the monsoon
season.
Concentration of heavy metals was relatively high during post-
monsoon season than pre-monsoon season (Fig. 2). Cd at the site
4 (0.1mg L
1
); Zn at the site 5 (0.09mg L
1
); Co at the site 2
(0.16mg L
1
); Ni at the site 13 (0.42mg L
1
); Cu and Cr at the site
3 (0.24, 0.11mg L
1
, respectively) and Fe at the site 14 (0.4mg L
1
)
were higher during post-monsoon season. While Pb at the site 2
(1.1mg L
1
) and Mn at the site 13 (0.16mg L
1
) was higher dur-
ing pre-monsoon season (Fig. 2). The results suggested that may be
due to inux of organic waste during the monsoon season through
surface runoff might lowers pH of water during the post monsoon
season (Kannel et al., 2007). The pH affects biochemical processes
as well as it also acts an indicator of water quality and extent of
pollution in the watershed (Kannel et al., 2007). Among different
heavy metals, Cd, Ni and Pb showed higher concentrations than
recommended for sh or aquatic life or for the purpose of drinking
or recreational activities (Table 2). Discharge of sewage, industrial
and poultry waste largely in untreated formmay be the most likely
causes of elevatedlevel of these metals inwater (Kansal et al., 2013;
Tao et al., 2012).
Water quality can be expressed in terms of scores calculated
through integrating complex data into a mathematical expression
(Meghla et al., 2013; Saffran, 2001). Status of water quality could
be thus interpret more easily through these scores which can make
policy makers able to deal more efciently with different water
quality issues (Kannel et al., 2007). WQI was signicantly different
between seasons and among the sites. WQI showed comparatively
better quality of water during pre-monsoon than post-monsoon
(Fig. 2). Similar results were also observed previously (Ghumman,
2011; Toor et al., 2013) where the authors recorded that in pre-
monsoon season the quality of Rawal lake, Pakistan and water
reservoir inFlorida, USA, respectively was good. The results suggest
that the inux of waste through surface runoff and delocalization
of solid waste dumped in river bed during monsoon season has
most likely affected water quality during post monsoon (Edwards
and Withers, 2008; Vieira et al., 2013). The sites 2 and 3 (>80)
showed higher WQI in post-monsoon season while the sites 4 and
5 WQI (>80) was higher during pre-monsoon season. However, the
lower WQI was recorded at the site 3 (<60) in pre-monsoon sea-
son and the sites 12, 13 and 14 (<60) during post-monsoon season
(Tables 3 and 4). WQI showed poor water quality at those sites
which drain sewage waste of twin cities while relatively better
scoring of WQI at downstream sites indicated natural process of
recoveryfromstress conditions occurreddue tothe huge amount of
sewage waste fromthe urban areas (Reza and Singh, 2010). Trends T
a
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268 S. Nazeer et al. / Ecological Indicators 43 (2014) 262270
Table 3
Scoring criteria for RI and TSI indices.
Index Original criteria Modied criteria Index classes
TSI 47 90100 Ultraoligotrophic
<4752 8090 Oligotrophic
<5259 6080 Mesotrophic
<5963 4060 Eutrophic
<6367 2040 Supereutrophic
>67 020 Hypereutrophic
RI <40 80100 Lowecological risk
4080 6080 Moderate ecological risk
80160 4060 Considerable ecological risk
160320 2040 High ecological risk
>320 020 Very high ecological risk
observed in WQI along the spatial scale also showed the impact of
land use on water quality (Ghumman, 2011; Toor et al., 2013).
3.2. Physico-chemistry of bed sediments
Spatio-temporal variations in physico-chemistry of bed sedi-
ments are described in Table 2. Results showed that pH, %OM,
%OP, ortho-phosphates and nitrates were signicantly different
among the sites and between the seasons. Higher pH, %OM,
%OP, ortho-phosphates and nitrates were recorded during post-
monsoon season than the pre-monsoon season. However, pH was
higher at the site 4 and %OM and %OP at the sites 11 and 12. Bed
sediments showedrelativelyalkalinepHduringpost-monsoonsea-
son which is resulted from the process of mineralization during
monsoon season (Fig. 3). Inux of organic waste through surface
runoff during monsoon season most likely elevated %OM in sed-
iments during post-monsoon season (Fig. 3). The sites draining
urban sewage exhibits relatively acidic pH and high OMcontent as
compared to the other sites which of course is attributed to the dis-
charge of sewage waste through point and non point sources from
urban areas (Ablio et al., 2012; Santos Bermejo et al., 2003; Tao
et al., 2012). Poor solid waste management practices in the region
play a vital role in discharge of organic waste from urban areas
through surface runoff which mainly occurs during monsoon sea-
son while agriculture runoff also play a partial role in this context.
Spatio-temporal variations in orthophosphates and nitrates of bed
sediments showed trend similar to that of OMcontents which indi-
cates the common migration pattern of these compounds fromthe
terrestrial to aquatic ecosystem which most likely occurs through
urban sewage.
3.3. Heavy metals in suspended and bed sediments
Heavy metals concentrations in suspended and bed sediment
samples are given in Table 2. The concentrations of heavy metals
were higher in the suspended sediment samples as compared to
the bed sediment samples. The concentrations of Fe and Cd at
the site 16 (26,491 and 3.8mg kg
1
, respectively); Zn at the site
12 (361mg kg
1
); Pb and Ni at the site 2 (270 and 683mg kg
1
,
respectively); Co at the site 1 (69mgkg
1
) and Cu and Cr at the
site 3 (403 and 1670mg kg
1
, respectively) get higher in the sus-
pended sediment samples. The concentrations of Mn were higher
at the site 1 (891) in the bed sediment samples. Several factors
could be involved for example might be due to inhibition of sedi-
mentationduring heavy owof water during monsoonseason(Jain
et al., 2008). Diagenetic mobilization, biodegrdation and recycling
of heavy metals in bed sediments might also contribute heavy
metals to the water column (Palanques et al., 1995). Moreover ne
particles of surface sediments have more surface area for adsorp-
tion of heavy metals as compared to the relatively coarse particles
of bed sediments (Jain et al., 2008). Unfortunately, organic matter
could not be estimated in suspended particles however it is spec-
ulated that input of organic waste through sewage drainage and
surface runoff also partly played their role in increased concentra-
tion of heavy metals in suspended sediments.
Samples are categorized in various classes based on I
geo
val-
ues related to the degree of pollution. Unpolluted class confer to
those sample having I
geo
<0, unpolluted-moderately polluted class
have I
geo
>0, moderately polluted class have 1<I
geo
<2, moderately
strong class have 2<I
geo
<3, strongly polluted class have 3<I
geo
<4,
strong-extremely polluted class have 4<I
geo
<5 and extremely
polluted class have I
geo
>5. I
geo
results indicated that bed and sus-
pended sediments are moderately contaminated with Cd while Ni,
Cu and Cr showed moderate contamination in suspended sedi-
ments (Fig. 4).
Different studies have used different conservative element such
as Al, Fe and Si however in current study, Fe is used for normal-
ization of heavy metals. EF value <1.5 suggests that metal has its
origininnatural sources while EF value >1.5corresponds toanthro-
pogenic input. EF categorizes sediments up to four classes from
moderate contamination having EF value <1.5 to extremely high
contamination having value >40. A comparison of metal concen-
tration in sediments with background reference values is generally
used to assess metal enrichment (Tuna et al., 2007). Enrichment
of metals with respect to their background standard values in our
study can indicated that metal accumulation was either by natural
Table 4
Risk classication of suspended and bed sediments and water quality index of River Soan.
Sampling sites Risk index (suspended
sediments)
Risk index (bed
sediments)
Water quality
index
Trophic state
index
Cumulative
index (CI)
Ecological class
1 50 58.5 71.74 70 61.90 Moderate ecological risk
2 58 83 66.6 45 61.65 Moderate ecological risk
3 42 60 80.98 80 63.56 Moderate ecological risk
4 56 87 66.59 45 61.81 Moderate ecological risk
5 51 83 78.17 19 50.07 Considerable ecological risk
6 40 82 66.26 38 53.60 Considerable ecological risk
7 75 75 73.65 38 62.99 Moderate ecological risk
8 39 90 74.44 36 55.38 Considerable ecological risk
9 60 85 71.34 17 49.87 Considerable ecological risk
10 60 66 67.12 70 65.67 Moderate ecological risk
11 40 93 46.62 20 43.15 Considerable ecological risk
12 33 87 53.83 25 44.33 Considerable ecological risk
13 35 74 50.49 15 37.42 High ecological risk
14 38 66 55.44 19 40.31 Considerable ecological risk
15 49 83 61.34 20 47.26 Considerable ecological risk
16 44 58 57.89 14 37.92 High ecological risk
17 56 70 53.27 14 41.35 Considerable ecological risk
18 66 97 53.96 10 43.11 Considerable ecological risk
S. Nazeer et al. / Ecological Indicators 43 (2014) 262270 269
Fig. 3. Spatio-temporal variations in nutrients, pH, OMand CP of bed sediments of River Soan.
Fig. 4. Graphical representation of geoaccumulation index (Igeo), enrichment factor (EF) and potential risk index (RI) calculated for suspended and bed sediments of River
Soan.
or anthropogenic sources (Sayadi et al., 2010). Results indicate that
Cd, Zn and Pb contents in bed sediments were added from both
natural and anthropogenic sources while Co, Ni, Cu and Cr show
their origin from natural sources. However suspended sediments
showed contribution of Cd, Zn, Ni, Cu and Cr both from natural
and anthropogenic while Co in suspended sediments appears to be
added only fromnatural processes. According to the classication
carried out on the basis of EF, bed sediments are signicantly con-
taminated with Cd and moderately contaminated with Pb and Zn.
Cd, Pb, Ni, Cu and Cr showed signicant contamination while Zn
showed moderate contamination in suspended sediments (Fig. 4).
Cd is typical anthropogenic metal affected by human activities
(Zhang and Shan, 2008) and showed severe enrichment. Cd had
beenassociatedto greater extent withcolloidal materials insurface
runoff which can easily be transported in river ow(Wakida et al.,
2008). Greater EF values of Zn can be attributed to surface run off
(Boxall et al., 2000) and input of organic wastes which comes from
municipal sewage and solid waste (Ali et al., 2013). Metals such
as Cu, Zn and Pb have high afnity to humic substances present
in organic matter. Presence and quantity of organic matter dif-
ferentially inuence the binding of metals within the sediments
and reduce adsorption of Cd and Co and increased adsorption of Zn
(Tomlinson et al., 1980).
According to RI, heavy metals in suspended sediments collected
fromsites drainingurbansewagecausemoderaterisktotheaquatic
ecosystemwhile sampling sites located upstreamand downstream
of urban areas show low ecological risk cause by heavy metal
contents in suspended sediments (Table 4). Bed sediments col-
lected from throughout the study area show low ecological risk
fromheavy metals (Fig. 4).
4. Conclusions
The present study concluded that most of the water, suspended
and bed sediment samples of River Soan were found polluted
with heavy metals and showed trends in seasonal variation. It was
attributed to the natural processes and anthropogenic activities
alongwiththeRiver Soancourse. Theconcentrations of heavymetal
270 S. Nazeer et al. / Ecological Indicators 43 (2014) 262270
were found to be higher during post-monsoon season while water
quality index (WQI) revealed that water quality was found to be
relatively better during the pre-monsoon season. The concentra-
tions of Ni, Pb and Cd in water samples were above the WHO level
recommended for aquatic life or domestic purpose. The suspended
sediment samples were more polluted as compared to the bed sed-
iment samples. The application of index of geoaccumulation and
the enrichment factor enabled us to nd elevated contents of some
toxic metals, which indicated Cd moderate to high contamination
in the suspended and bed sediment samples. Potential risk index
revealed moderate ecological risk in the suspended sediment sam-
ples of urban areas. The results of the present study suggested that
the River Soan should be given priority for effective waste manage-
ment purposes to sustain the ecological integrity.
Acknowledgments
This research work is conducted under the research project
Ecological Impact Assessment of Selected Wetlands of Pakistan
(project no. 02-828/RND/07), which was funded by the Higher
Education Commission. The authors are grateful to the Pakistan
Wetlands Programme for providing transport to Rawal Lake Reser-
voir for the sh sampling.
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