Heavy metals found in Mumbai lakes

THANE CITY, India, Aug. 8 (UPI) -- Indian researchers say toxic heavy metal pollution has been measured in two lakes in the Thane City suburb of Mumbai.

Measurements in the city's Jail Talav and Kalwa lakes found elevated levels of heavy metals such as iron, copper, nickel and zinc well above permissible concentrations, an article published in the journal Interdisciplinary Environmental Review said.

The levels are a significant threat to ecosystems and a problem for those who rely on the lakes for drinking water or crop irrigation, the researchers said.

Mercury, arsenic and cadmium were also found at much higher than acceptable concentrations.

"This region, which is in the grip of flood and drought cycles, needs a long-term strategy for management of its water resources," the team wrote in the journal article.

Contamination by heavy metals has become an important issue, partly because of the potential accumulation in the food chain, the researchers said.

"A better understanding of heavy metal sources, their accumulation in water and the effect of their presence in water on plant systems are particularly important in ongoing risk assessments," they say.