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Journal of Applied Sciences and Environmental Management
World Bank assisted National Agricultural Research Project (NARP) - University of Port Harcourt
ISSN: 1119-8362
Vol. 9, Num. 1, 2005, pp. 147-149

Journal of Applied Sciences & Environmental Management, Vol. 9, No. 1, 2005, pp.147-149

Evaluation of Algae from the Effluent of Dandot Cement Company, Dandot, Pakistan

T.M. KHATTAK, NOOR ZAMAN BHATTI AND GHULAM MURTAZA*

Department of Botany, the University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Muzaffarabad, Pakistan. E-mail: gmurtazaq@hotmail.com

Code Number: ja05027

ABSTRACT: Twenty genera and fifty species of algae have been reported from the effluent water of Dandot Cement Company. They include thirteen genera and thirty five species from Chlorophyceae; three genera and six species from Cyanophyceae and four genera and nine species from Bacillariophyceae. Camera Lucida drawings of all the species are being provided. The present investigation suggest that the effluent have inhibited the growth of algae particularly the members of class Cyanophycea and Bacillariophyceae. pH range 7.0 to 7.6 is the best for sustenance of aquatic life. Here the pH of the pond is 7.5 seems to be normal for aquatic vegetation. However the Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) which is 10 time higher than that recommended by Pakistan National Environmental Quality Standard (PNEQS), could be one of the reasons to check the growth of algal vegetation in the pond. @JASEM

It is universal fact that industrial growth is of paramount importance for the economic development of a country. But at the same time we forget about, how much damage is caused due to this development to our environment. Almost all industries in Pakistan are discharging their waste emission in to the surrounding without a sense of responsibility. Probably that may be one of the reasons that United Nations terms Pakistan as “Pollutes Paradise” (Mahmood, 2001). Two types of pollutions arise from industries i.e. gaseous and effluents. Gaseous pollution occurs due to the combustion of coal, smelting of ores and other industrial processes. The biggest contributor to water pollution is the industrial wastes. These wastes can be produced from textile, chemicals, petrol, pulp and paper industries and tanneries. According to Mahmood (2001) the effluents coming from the sugar mills have significantly inhibited the growth of the algal vegetation and the inhibitory effect depend upon the concentration of different pollutants in the effluent. Ali et al. (1977) observed that effluent water coming from various industrial areas have checked the growth of algae and invertebrates. The present investigation is to see the effect of effluents which is rich in fossil food and oil contamination on the algal growth found in the waste water coming from Dandot Cement Company Limited, Dandot, District Jhelum.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Algal samples were collected from the pond full of effluent water of Dandot

Cement Company Ltd. Dandot, District Jhelum from September 2001 to March 2002. The samples were collected by hand picking, squeezing and scrapping the aquatic vegetation and were brought to the laboratory. The bottles were numbered accordingly. The preserved algal specimens were identified one by one under the microscope and original diagrams were drawn with the help of Camera lucida. The identification of the specimens was done with the help of work by Prescott (1951), Tiffany and Britton (1952), Desikachary (1952) and Whitford & Schumacher (1973). The effluent water samples of the company were chemically analysed at the PCSIR laboratories, Lahore.

RESULT AND DISCUSSION

The effluent coming from various factories directly effect the growth of the marine flora. The inhibitory effects depend upon the concentration of different pollutants occurring in the effluents (Nisar, 1999; Mahmood, 2001). The present findings suggest that the effluent of Dandot Cement Company have inhibited the growth of algae, particularly the members of class Cyanophyceae and Bacillariophyceae. The members of the class Chlorophyceae were found to be tolerant to some extent. The pH, total hardiness, calcium and magnecium, sulphates, chlorides, nitrates, carbonates and bicarbonates were analysed at PCSIR laboratories, Lahore. The pH of the sample was 7.5 Table 1).During this study total 20 genera with 50 species were studied. They include 13 genera and 35 species from Chlorophyceae; 4 genera and 9 species from Bacillariophyceae and 3 genera and 6 species from Cyanophyceae (Table 2, Plate 1, 2, 3). The Chlorophyceaea consists of Closterium and Microspora with five species each; Chlamydomonas and Spirogyra with four species each; Geminella, Mougotia and Rhizoclonium with three species each; Elakatothrix with two species. The rest of the genera i.e. Ankistrodesmus, Binuclearia, Characium, Closteriopsis, Roya and Zygnemopsis with one species per genera. Bacillariophyceae was the next larger class with 9 species belonging to 4 genera. Frustala and Gomphonema were with three species whereas Cocconeis with two species and Navicula with only one species.

The Cynaphyceae was the least represented class having 6 species from three genera. Oscillatoria being found the dominant genus with four species. Microsystis was with two species while Phormidium have only one species.

The percentage presence of Chlorophyceae in the effluent water was 70%, followed by the Bacillariophyceae occupying the intermediate position with 18%, while the least value approximately 12% was observed by Cyanophyceae. Thus mostly frequently occurring class was Chlorophyceae and the least one was Cyanophyceae pH range 7.0 to 7.6 is best for the sustenance of aquatic life. It shows that the pH of the pond of effluent water which is 7.5 is normal for the aquatic vegetation.

Chemical oxygen demand (COD) determines the organic compounds which are susceptible to oxidations and depletion in oxygen in the surrounding water. The Pakistan National Environmental Quality Standard (NEQ) for effluent is 150 mg O₂/ l. As 10 times dilution is necessary in the water body, therefore 15mg O₂/ l is required for the existence of aquatic life. The above COD value in the sample effluent water might could be one of the reasons which have checked the growth of algae.

REFERENCES

Ali, S; Ahmed, M. and Khalil, ZU (1977). Effect of effluents of industrial complex of Kala Shah Kaku on water quality and organism of Deg Nullah. Bull. Hydrobiologe Res. Gardon College. Ser. 1, 15:28-300.
Desikachary, TV (1952). Cyanophyta. Ind. Coun. Agr. Res. New Delhi. pp. 686.
Mahmood, H (2001). Algae recorded from effluent of factories from district Mardan. M.Sc. Thesis, Dept. of Botany, University of Peshawar. pp.66.
Nisar, A (1999). Members of order Ulotrichals in District Swat. M.Sc. Thesis, Dept. of Botany ,University of Peshawar.
Prescott, GW (1951). Algae of Western Great lakes Area. Granbrook Ins. Sci. Bloom Field. pp. 994.
Tiffany, LH; Britton, ME (1951). The algae of Illinosis. The University of Chicago, Press, Chicago. pp. 406.Whitford, LA; Schumacher, GJ (1973). A manual of fresh water algae. Sparks Press Raleight W.C. pp. 324.

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