Aquatic Pollution and Coastal Management

Unit 5 : Heavy metal pollution

5.3.1.Natural Sources
The most significant source of metals is weathering of rocks and volcanic activities from which the released metals find their way into water bodies. A large quantity of metals also gets suspendeds in the atmosphere from where they can reach the waters through dry deposition and with precipitation. The natural sources of atmospheric contamination include mainly dust particles from volcanic activities, erosion of soil, weathering of rocks and forest fires.the biodegradation of dead animals and plants also contribute significantly to background levels of metals in waters.