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Heavy metal accumulation in the surficial sediments along southwest coast of India

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Abstract

Concentration and distribution of heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb and Zn) in surface sediments collected from five stations located along the southwest coast of India were investigated seasonally to assess whether there is insidious buildup of heavy metals. Spatial variation was in accordance with textural characteristics and organic matter content. The concentration of the metals in sediments of the study area followed the order: Zn > Cr > Ni > Cu > Pb > Cd > Hg. The use of geochemical tools and sediment quality guidelines to account for the magnitude of heavy metal contamination revealed high contamination in monsoon and impoverishment during post-monsoon. Estimated total metal concentrations in the present investigation were comparable with other studies; however, concentrations of Ni and Zn were higher than that of other coastal regions. Concentrations of metals in sediment largely exceed NOAA effects range:low (e.g., Cu, Cr, Hg) or effects range:median (e.g., Ni) values. This means that adverse effects for benthic organisms are highly probable.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank Dr. N. P. Kurian, Director, CESS for the facilities provided. The financial assistance from Ministry of Earth Science, New Delhi in the form of a sponsored project Coastal Ocean Monitoring and Prediction System (COMAPS) is gratefully acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Chemistry and Marine Biology Laboratory, Chemical Sciences Division, Centre for Earth Science Studies, Thiruvananthapuram, 695031, Kerala, India

    P. Udayakumar, J. Jean Jose & K. Anoop Krishnan

  2. Department of Chemical Oceanography, School of Marine Sciences, Cochin University of Science and Technology, Kochi, 682016, Kerala, India

    C. S. Ratheesh Kumar, M. N. Manju & P. M. Salas

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  1. P. Udayakumar
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Correspondence to P. Udayakumar.

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Udayakumar, P., Jose, J.J., Krishnan, K.A. et al. Heavy metal accumulation in the surficial sediments along southwest coast of India. Environ Earth Sci 72, 1887–1900 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-014-3097-9

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