Published Paper Details:

Pulp & Paper Mill effluent is deadly toxic and the effluent is directly discharged without biological treatment into River Nagavalli. The main objective of the study was to assess pollution status at Chandilli village caused by the effluent of the paper mill: its impact on the pigment content and production of crop plants. The effluent contaminated river water contained significant quantity of heavy metals. Significant amount of Cd, Hg and Pb was found in the crop field soil and water. Residual cadmium, mercury and lead were found in the crop field inhabiting important economic and non-economic plants. Significant depletion of plant pigment content was recorded in all exposed plants of the crop field tested. The observed effects were only due to the heavy metal accumulation in the leaves of the crop plants. Ragi plants showed highest accumulation of heavy metals and the impact was least on the pigment content when compared to other crop plants tested. Out of all crop plants tested, ragi crop plant was more tolerant when compared to rice, green gram & black gram crop plants.