Toxic Metals Enrichment in the Surficial Sediments of a Eutrophic Tropical Estuary (Cochin Backwaters, Southwest Coast of India)
Concentrations and distributions of trace metals (Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn) in surficial sediments of the Cochin backwaters were studied during both monsoon and pre-monsoon periods. Spatial variations were in accordance with textural charaterstics and organic matter content. A princip...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2012-01-01
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| Series: | The Scientific World Journal |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1100/2012/972839 |
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| author | G. D. Martin Rejomon George P. Shaiju K. R. Muraleedharan S. M. Nair N. Chandramohanakumar |
| author_facet | G. D. Martin Rejomon George P. Shaiju K. R. Muraleedharan S. M. Nair N. Chandramohanakumar |
| author_sort | G. D. Martin |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Concentrations and distributions of trace metals (Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn) in surficial sediments of the Cochin backwaters were studied during both monsoon and pre-monsoon periods. Spatial variations were in accordance with textural charaterstics and organic matter content. A principal component analysis distinguished three zones with different metal accumulation capacity: (i) highest levels in north estuary, (ii) moderate levels in central zone, and (iii) lowest levels in southern part. Trace metal enrichments are mainly due to anthropogenic contribution of industrial, domestic, and agricultural effluents, whose effect is enhanced by settling of metals due to organic flocculation and inorganic precipitation associated with salinity changes. Enrichments factors using Fe as a normalizer showed that metal contamination was the product of anthropogenic activities. An assessment of degree of pollution-categorized sediments as moderately polluted with Cu and Pb, moderately-to-heavily polluted with Zn, and heavily-to-extremely polluted with Cd. Concentrations at many sites largely exceed NOAA ERL (e.g., Cu, Cr, and Pb) or ERM (e.g., Cd, Ni, and Zn). This means that adverse effects for benthic organisms are possible or even highly probable. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-66628c547e564a038b8fa73f0ccd72c5 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1537-744X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2012-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | The Scientific World Journal |
| spelling | doaj-art-66628c547e564a038b8fa73f0ccd72c52025-08-20T03:34:47ZengWileyThe Scientific World Journal1537-744X2012-01-01201210.1100/2012/972839972839Toxic Metals Enrichment in the Surficial Sediments of a Eutrophic Tropical Estuary (Cochin Backwaters, Southwest Coast of India)G. D. Martin0Rejomon George1P. Shaiju2K. R. Muraleedharan3S. M. Nair4N. Chandramohanakumar5Department of Chemical Oceanography, School of Marine Sciences, Cochin University of Science & Technology, Cochin 682016, IndiaDepartment of Chemical Oceanography, School of Marine Sciences, Cochin University of Science & Technology, Cochin 682016, IndiaDepartment of Chemical Oceanography, School of Marine Sciences, Cochin University of Science & Technology, Cochin 682016, IndiaNational Institute of Oceanography, Regional Center, P.O. Box 1913, Cochin 682018, IndiaDepartment of Chemical Oceanography, School of Marine Sciences, Cochin University of Science & Technology, Cochin 682016, IndiaDepartment of Chemical Oceanography, School of Marine Sciences, Cochin University of Science & Technology, Cochin 682016, IndiaConcentrations and distributions of trace metals (Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn) in surficial sediments of the Cochin backwaters were studied during both monsoon and pre-monsoon periods. Spatial variations were in accordance with textural charaterstics and organic matter content. A principal component analysis distinguished three zones with different metal accumulation capacity: (i) highest levels in north estuary, (ii) moderate levels in central zone, and (iii) lowest levels in southern part. Trace metal enrichments are mainly due to anthropogenic contribution of industrial, domestic, and agricultural effluents, whose effect is enhanced by settling of metals due to organic flocculation and inorganic precipitation associated with salinity changes. Enrichments factors using Fe as a normalizer showed that metal contamination was the product of anthropogenic activities. An assessment of degree of pollution-categorized sediments as moderately polluted with Cu and Pb, moderately-to-heavily polluted with Zn, and heavily-to-extremely polluted with Cd. Concentrations at many sites largely exceed NOAA ERL (e.g., Cu, Cr, and Pb) or ERM (e.g., Cd, Ni, and Zn). This means that adverse effects for benthic organisms are possible or even highly probable.http://dx.doi.org/10.1100/2012/972839 |
| spellingShingle | G. D. Martin Rejomon George P. Shaiju K. R. Muraleedharan S. M. Nair N. Chandramohanakumar Toxic Metals Enrichment in the Surficial Sediments of a Eutrophic Tropical Estuary (Cochin Backwaters, Southwest Coast of India) The Scientific World Journal |
| title | Toxic Metals Enrichment in the Surficial Sediments of a Eutrophic Tropical Estuary (Cochin Backwaters, Southwest Coast of India) |
| title_full | Toxic Metals Enrichment in the Surficial Sediments of a Eutrophic Tropical Estuary (Cochin Backwaters, Southwest Coast of India) |
| title_fullStr | Toxic Metals Enrichment in the Surficial Sediments of a Eutrophic Tropical Estuary (Cochin Backwaters, Southwest Coast of India) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Toxic Metals Enrichment in the Surficial Sediments of a Eutrophic Tropical Estuary (Cochin Backwaters, Southwest Coast of India) |
| title_short | Toxic Metals Enrichment in the Surficial Sediments of a Eutrophic Tropical Estuary (Cochin Backwaters, Southwest Coast of India) |
| title_sort | toxic metals enrichment in the surficial sediments of a eutrophic tropical estuary cochin backwaters southwest coast of india |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1100/2012/972839 |
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