Dr. Keshav Krishna A

Scientist-F , Geochemistry

Dr. Keshav Krishna A

keshav_krishna@ngri.res.in; keshavaradhi1041@gmail.com

Academic Identity
           

Specialization

Environmental - Analytical Geochemistry

Research Area

Dr. A. Keshav Krishna is an environmental geochemist whose research focuses on understanding the distribution, mobility, and environmental impact of trace and toxic elements in soils, sediments, and groundwater systems. His work integrates field investigations, geochemical analysis, and environmental assessment to elucidate the processes governing contaminant transport and accumulation in natural environments.

A major component of his research addresses environmental contamination associated with mining, industrial activities, and urbanization, providing scientific insights into pollution sources, environmental risk assessment, and sustainable environmental management. In recent years, his research has increasingly incorporated advanced data analysis approaches, including artificial intelligence and machine learning techniques, to improve interpretation of large geochemical datasets and to develop predictive models for environmental contamination and geochemical processes.

He has also contributed to understanding chemical weathering processes and their role in global geochemical cycles, particularly atmospheric CO₂ consumption in basaltic terrains such as the Deccan Traps. His research integrates environmental geochemistry with emerging computational approaches to better understand geosphere–environment interactions and their implications for environmental sustainability and climate processes.

 

Research Highlights:

  • Contribution to understanding the distribution and geochemical behaviour of trace and toxic elements in soils, sediments, and groundwater systems.
  • Studies on the environmental geochemistry of mining-impacted and industrial regions, contributing to environmental monitoring and pollution assessment.
  • Research on chemical weathering processes and atmospheric CO₂ consumption in basaltic terrains, improving understanding of global geochemical cycles.
  • Application of advanced analytical techniques and artificial intelligence/machine learning approaches for interpretation of large geochemical datasets.
  • Development of geochemical indicators for environmental contamination and ecological risk assessment.
  • Mentoring and supervision of doctoral researchers in environmental geochemistry.

Ongoing Research Projects

  1. Environmental geochemistry of trace and toxic elements in soils and sediments of mining-impacted regions.

 

  1. Geochemical assessment of heavy metal contamination in groundwater and surface water systems.

 

  1. Chemical weathering processes and atmospheric CO₂ consumption in basaltic terrains of India.

 

  1. Application of artificial intelligence and machine learning techniques for interpretation of geochemical datasets and prediction of       environmental contamination.

 

  1. Geochemical characterization of soils and sediments for environmental monitoring and sustainability.

 

Honors & Awards

S.No

 

Name of Award

Awarding Agency

Year

1.

Conferred with Smt. Veena Roonwal Memorial Gold Medal Award-2024

Society of Geoscientists and Allied Technologists, Bhubaneswar, Orrisa

2024

2.

Conferred with “National Geoscience Award-2016, Discipline: Geo- Environmental Studies

Type of Award: Individual Award

Ministry of Mines, Govt. of India, New Delhi.

2016

3.

“Smt. Manthripragada Sita Devi-Sri Rama Rao Medal”, for the best contributions in the field of Analytical

Geochemistry for the last ten years

Indian Society of Applied Geochemistry (ISAG)

2014

4.

“Outstanding Performance Award” for the year 2012-2013 presented to Geochemistry Group for Highest No. of SCI Papers by a R & D Group as

first author.

CSIR-NGRI

2013

5.

Associate Fellow

Andhra Pradesh

Akademi of Sciences

2013

Publications

  1. A. Keshav Krishna, P.K.Govil, (2007), Soil contamination due to heavy metals from an industrial area of Surat, Gujarat, Western India, Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 124:263-275. (IF: 3.0).

 

  1. A. Keshav Krishna, M. Satyanarayanan, P.K. Govil, (2009), Assessment of heavy metal pollution in water using multivariate statistical techniques in an industrial area: A case study from Patancheru, Medak District, Andhra Pradesh, India, Journal of Hazardous Materials, 167,366-373. (IF: 11.3).

 

  1. A. Keshav Krishna, K. Rama Mohan, N.N. Murthy, V. Periasamy, G. Bipinkumar, Manohar, S. Srinivas Rao, (2013), Assessment of heavy metal contamination in soils around chromite mining areas, Nuggihalli, Karnataka, India, Environ Earth Sciences, 70,699-708. (IF: 2.8).

 

  1. A. Keshav Krishna, K. Rama Mohan, (2014), Risk assessment ofheavy metals and their source distribution in waters of a contaminated industrial site, Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 21,3653-3669. (IF: 4.46).

 

  1. A. Keshav Krishna, Tarun C. Khanna, K. Rama Mohan, (2016), Rapid quantitative determination of major and trace elements in silicate rocks and soils employing fused glass discs using wavelength dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry, Spectrochimic a Acta Part B. 122,165-171. (IF: 3.8).

 

  1. A. K. Krishna, B. Dasaram, (2021), Assessing Potentially Toxic Elements (PTEs) Distribution and Behavior in Soils around an Agro- based Industries, Soil and Sediment Contamination: An International Journal, 30:5,497-517. (IF: 2.1).

 

  1. Keshav Krishna Aradhi, Babu Mallesh Dasari Dasaram Banothu, Satyanarayanan Manavalan (2023), Spatial distribution, sources and health risk assessment of heavy metals in topsoil around oil and natural gas drilling sites, Andhra Pradesh, India. Scientific Reports, Nature Portfoilio 13: 106-14. (IF: 3.9).

 

  1. Babu Mallesh Damari, Keshav Krishna Aradhi*, Dasaram Banothu (2025), Groundwater quality and its impact due to hydraulic fracturing activities around oil and gas drilling sites: A comprehensive study on distribution, correlation, ecological and health risk assessment of heavy metals, Groundwater for Sustainable Development, 28- 10139. (IF: 5.6).


  1. Babu Mallesh Dasari, Keshav Krishna Aradhi* (2025), Characterizing pollution and identifying heavy metal sources in surface sediments: a PMF‑based assessment of environmental risks from produced water discharges during hydraulic fracturing, Environmental Geochemistry and Health, 47,574. (IF: 3.8).

 

  1. Babu Mallesh Dasari, Keshav Krishna Aradhi* (2026), Depth-Resolved Distribution and Multivariate Source Apportionment of Heavy Metals in Soils Influenced by Hydraulic Fracturing Activities in the Krishna–Godavari Onshore Basin, India, Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, 90:(2) (IF: 3.4).

 

(*Corresponding author)

Books

 

1. Geochemical Baseline Atlas of India (2019)
Authors: Pradip K. Govil, A. Keshav Krishna, V. M. Tiwari
Publisher: Professional Books Publisher (on behalf of CSIR–National Geophysical Research
Institute)
Year: 2019
This atlas provides baseline geochemical data for environmental assessment and
management across India, serving as an important reference for environmental monitoring
and policy planning.

2. Pollution Assessment of Soil and Groundwater Resources Around the Gold and
Chromite Mining Regions of Southern India
In: Mining Impacts and Their Environmental Problems
Authors: Kurakalva Rama Mohan, A. Keshav Krishna, Manavalan Satyanarayanan
Publisher: Springer Nature
Year: 2025

3. Geochemistry of Marine Carbonates from Hole 1394, off the Coast of Montserrat
(IODP Expedition 340): Implications on Provenance, Paleoenvironment and Lesser
Antilles Arc Migration
In: Dynamics of the Earth System: Evolution, Processes and Interactions (Society of Earth
Scientists Series)
Authors: K. S. V. Subramanyam, V. Balaram, C. Manikyamba, Parijat Roy, A. Keshav
Krishna, S. S. Sawant, Ch. Narasimha
Editors: D. Pandey, M. Ravichandran, N. Nair
Publisher: Springer Nature
Year: 2020

4. Soil and Water Contamination by Potentially Hazardous Elements: A Case History
from India In: Environmental Geochemistry: Site Characterization, Data Analysis and Case Histories
Authors: P. K. Govil, A. Keshav Krishna
Editors: Benedetto De Vivo, Harvey E. Belkin, Annamaria Lima
Publisher: Elsevier
Year: 2017

 

Research Scholars

1. Ph.D. Students Supervised: One

 2. Present Students Pursuing Ph.D.: Three

3. M.Sc. dissertations supervised: Three

 

Educational Qualification

PhD

Proffessional Experience

Dr. A. Keshav Krishna is a senior scientist at the National Geophysical Research Institute, Hyderabad, a premier laboratory of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research.

 

As Scientist-F, he has more than two decades of experience in environmental and analytical geochemistry. His work involves geochemical investigations of soils, sediments, and groundwater systems with emphasis on trace and toxic element behaviour and environmental contamination.

 

He has been actively involved in national research programmes, development and operation of advanced analytical facilities, mentoring of research scholars, and collaborative scientific projects addressing environmental geochemistry and geochemical processes.

Proffessional Affiliations

  • Member, Society of Environmental Geochemistry and Health
  • Member, Geological Society of India
  • Member, Indian Society of Applied Geochemists
  • Participation in international geochemistry conferences including the Goldschmidt Conference
  • Scientific collaborations and interactions with national and international research institutions.