Influence of mattresses washing on the water quality and phytoplankton diversity in selected industrial outlets of Tamil Nadu

Abstract

The impact of anthropogenic activity of mattresses washing on the quality of two lotic water bodies of Cuddalore SIPCOT industries outlet water bodies two different stations were analysed. The industrial waste water currents battered along the Freshwater ecosystem near SIPCOT industries. Hence an attempt was made to record outlet water bodies two different stations were analysed. The water samples were collected during summer (April-June, 2021) and winter seasons (Oct-Dec 2021) and analysed for various physicochemical parameters. Decrease in dissolved oxygen concentrations along with tremendous increase in electrical conductivity in both the water bodies, was observed due to mattresses washing by using detergents. Heavy metals like lead, cadmium and nickel were absent throughout. The values of iron was increased while manganese was traced out after this activity. This proved that water quality was found to be hampered in both the stations. A total of 65 species of phytoplankton belonging to different taxonimic groups were identified. Among these, 25 species belong to Bacillariophyceae, 20 species to Chlorophyceae, 15 species to Cyanophyceae and 5 species to Euglenophyceae. The numerical superiority of phytoplankton reveals that Nitzschia sps. (6.66 x 103 units/1) is dominant in SIPCOT industries water outlet. The maximum value of Simpson index (SR) or species richness (0.55) was recorded in Cuddalore SIPCOT industry. The high value of species evenness index (J) was also recorded (0.69) in Cuddalore SIPCOT industry. The maximum value of Shannon’s overall index (H¢) of species diversity (1.38) was recorded in industrial outlet. Microcystis aeruginosa, Anabaena, Oscillatoria, Merismopedia, Aphanizomenon, Chlorella, Cosmarium, Scenedesmus, Closteridium, Navicula and Nitzschia were observed in two stations. These are pollution indicator species used for monitoring the environment.