LEVEL OF METAL CONTAMINATION IN SOIL AT DEFENCE SITES, INDIASATINDER K. BRAR, SUREKHA PARTHASARTHY AND KSHIPRA MISRAAbstract Results of an extensive soil sampling of two defence site at Pune are presented with the aim to identify the extent of metal contamination and develop a specific database which can serve as a valuable resource in futuristic remediation plans. The sites are found to be appreciably contaminated, especially with lead and magnesium, in particular which are extensively used in many of the armament/ammunition activities. This is a cause of great concern as it will eventually magnify and lead to an irreversible harm to the existing ecosystem. One of the sites at Aramament and Research Development Establishment (ARDE), Pune is minimally contaminated compared to the other site at High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL), Pune. Concentrations at sub-surface level for alkali metals (Na, K) range from 1.00 to 4.2 mg/g, alkaline earth metals (Ca, Mg) vary from 4.6 to 38.8 mg/g and heavy meatls (Al, Mn, Pb, Ni, Mo, Cr, Co, Sn, Fe, Cu, Hg, Se, Zn, Cd) from 0.1 to 991.5 rng/g at ARDE, whereas the same is found in the range of 0.15 to 17.6 for alklai metals (Na, K), alkaline earth metals from 0.46 to 52.9 and heavy meatls (Al, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Se, Mo, Cd, Sn, Fig and Pb from 0.01 to 982.3 mg/g for HEMRL. Almost, similar concentrations of these metals exist at both the sites at 15-20 cm depth.
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