International Science Community Association International Research Journal of Biological Sciences 2278 - 3202 1 1 2012 05 10 Metals in Environmental segments at Hirakud of Odisha, India 7 23 EN Bi Shaziya 1 School of Studies in Zoology and Biotechnology, Vikram University, Ujjain, MP, INDIA Goyal P.K. 2 Mishra P.C. 1 P.G.Department of Environmental Sciences, Sambalpur University, Jyoti Vihar, Orissa, INDIA Dash A.K. 2 Environmental Engineering, Department of Civil Engineering, ITER ,SOA University ,Bhubaneswar, INDIA Khageswar Pradhan 3 NTPC ,Kaniha ,Angul ,Odisha, INDIA > Research Paper 2012 4 3 2012 05 10 Environmental segments in an industrial town in western Odisha were assessed in respect to seven metals including five heavy metals. The study includes horizontal distribution of the metals up to a distance of 2000 m from the source in four directions, east, west, north and south. Although the metal content was relatively negligible in aquatic environment, the soil and vegetable samples showed higher accumulation. The metals content in soil were 0.24 for Cd, 41.59 for Cr, 16253 for Fe, 22.08 for Pb, 47.06 for Zn, and 3.74 for As with 24.19, 4159.2, 34802.99, 1840.03, 3619.62 and 113.24 times magnification respectively over the respective value in water. The metal content in vegetation were 1.01 for Cd, 5.76 for Cr, 1096.80 for Fe, 4.01 for Pb, 104.88 for Zn and 4.2 for As with a magnification of 101.3, 575.9, 2348.61, 334.50, 8067.69, 127.30 respectively over the respective values in water. Flesh and Bone samples of amphibians also showed bioaccumulation in various range, in some cases more than the vegetation. The data reveals that although most of these pollutants are present in negligible quantity in water sources, the extent of biomagnification in quite visible particularly in respect to soil, vegetation, flesh and bone. All such contaminations may be due to the ongoing industrial activities because of continuous coal combustion in the thermal power plants and aluminium smelter operation as well as industries which were operating earlier but have been closed. Copyright@ International Science Community Association