Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Multivariate statistical and GIS-based approaches for toxic metals in tropical mangrove ecosystem, southeast coast of India

  • Published:
Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The heavy metal concentrations in water and sediment samples were investigated in the tropical Muthupet mangrove ecosystem, southeast coast of India. The results demonstrated that, ranges of metals in water comprise of Cd—0.05 to 3.72; Cu—0.5 to 4.43; Pb—6.31 to 17.87; Zn—0.0 to12.91 ppm and sediment comprises of Cd—0.06 to 0.57; Cu—4.46 to 20.59; Pb—2.90 to 21.35; Zn—4.41 to 39.18 ppm. In all the three sites, heavy metals in sediment exhibited significant higher concentrations compared to water, except Cd. The spatial distribution of metals in water and sediment samples followed a similar pattern except Cd with the preponderance of Zn (75% of total metals) followed by Cu and Pb. Muller’s Geoaccumulation indexes (Igeo) showed Cd is a potent pollutant in the ecosystem and moderately contaminated the study area. The aquaculture and agricultural culture practices follow improper disposal of municipal wastages, and idol immersion activities are the potent metallic sources for heavy metal pollution were identified by performing principle component analysis. In order to protect the ecosystem from further contamination, regular monitoring is needed to in order to control the anthropogenic discharges.

Graphical abstract

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ajithkumar, T. T., Thangaradjou, T., & Kannan, L. (2006). Physico-chemical and biological properties of the Muthupettai mangrove in Tamil Nadu. Journal Marine Biological Association of India, 48, 131–138.

    Google Scholar 

  • Amin, B., Ismail, A., Arshad, A., Yap, C. K., & Kamarudin, M. H. (2009). Anthropogenic impacts on heavy metal concentrations in the coastal sediments of Dumai, Indonesia. Environment Monitor Assesment, 148, 291–305. doi:10.1007/s10661-008-0159-z.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • APHA, Clescerl, L. S., Greenberg, A. E., & Eaton, A. D. (1998). Standard methods for examination of water & wastewater (20th ed.). Washington, DC: American Public Health Association.

    Google Scholar 

  • Asha, P. S., & Diwakar, K. (2007). Recent trends in the hydrobiology of coastal and inshore waters off Tuticorin in the Gulf of Mannar. India. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of India, 49, 7–11.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ashok Kumar, S., Rajaram, G., Manivasagan, P., Ramesh, S., Sampathkumar, P., & Mayavu, P. (2011). Studies on hydrographical parameters, nutrients and microbial populations of Mullipallam Creek in Muthupettai mangroves (southeast coast of India). Research Journal of Microbiology, 6, 71–86. doi:10.3923/jm.2011.71.86.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Badarudeen, A., Damodaran, K. T., Sajan, K., & Padmalal, D. (1996). Texture and geochemistry of the sediments of a tropical mangrove ecosystem, south west of India. Environmental Geology, 27, 164–169. doi:10.1007/BF00770428.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bai, J., Xiao, R., Cui, B., Zhang, K., Wang, Q., Liu, X., & Gao, H. (2011). Assessment of heavy metal pollution in wetland soils from the young and old reclaimed regions in the Pearl River estuary, South China. Environmental Pollution, 159, 817–824. doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2010.11.004.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bajpai, A., Pani, S., Jain, R. K., & Mishra, S. M. (2002). Heavy metal contamination through idol immersion in a tropical lake. Ecology and Environmental Conservation, 8, 157–159.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Balakrishnan, T., Sundaramanickam, A., Shekhar, S., & Balasubramanian, T. (2015). Distribution and seasonal variation of heavy metals in sediments of muthupet lagoon, Southeast Coast of India. Journal of Ecological Engineering, 16, 49–60.

  • Balasubramanian, R., & Kannan, L. (2005). Physico-chemical characteristics of the coral reef environs of the Gulf of Mannar biosphere reserve, India. International Journal of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, 31, 265–271.

    Google Scholar 

  • Behera, B. C., Mishra, R. R., Patra, J. K., Sarangi, K., Dutta, S. K., & Thatoi, H. N. (2013). Impact of heavy metals on bacterial communities from mangrove soils of the Mahanadi Delta (India). Chemistry and Ecology, 29, 604–619. doi:10.1080/02757540.2013.810719.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bettinetti, R., Giarei, C., & Provini, A. (2003). A chemical analysis and sediment toxicity bioassays to assess the contamination of the river Lambro (northern Italy). Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, 45, 72–80. doi:10.1007/s00244-002-0126-6.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bodin, N., Gom-Ka, R., Thiaw, O. T., Tito de Morais, L., Le Loch, F., Rozuel-Chartier, E., Auger, D., & Chiffoleau, J. F. (2013). Assessment of trace metal contamination in mangrove ecosystems from Senegal West Africa. Chemosphere, 90, 150–157. doi:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2012.06.019.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Caeiro, S., Costa, M. H., Ramos, T. B., Fernandes, F., Silveira, N., Coimbra, A., Medeiros, G., & Painho, M. (2005). Assessing heavy metal contamination in Sado estuary sediment: an index analysis approach. Ecological Indicators, 5, 151–169. doi:10.1016/j.ecolind.2005.02.001.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cevik, F., Göksu, M. Z., Derici, O. B., & Findik, O. (2009). An assessment of metal pollution in surface sediments of Seyhan dam by using enrichment factor, geo accumulation index and statistical analyses. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 152(4), 309–317. doi:10.1007/s10661-008-0317-3.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chai, M., Shen, X., Li, R., & Qiu, G. (2015). The risk assessment of heavy metals in Futian mangrove forest sediment in Shenzhen Bay (South China) based on SEM-AVS analysis. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 97(1–2), 431–439. doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2015.05.057.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chaterjee, G., & Raziuddin, M. (2006). Status of water body in relation to some physico-chemical parameters in Asansol town, West Bengal. Proc. Zool. Soc. India., 5(2), 41–48.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cuong, D. T., Bayen, S., Wurl, O., Subramanian, K., Wong, K. K. S., Sivasothi, N., & Obbard, J. P. (2005). Heavy metal contamination in mangrove habitats of Singapore. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 50, 1713–1744. doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2005.09.008.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dahl, O., Pöykiö, R., & Nurmesniemi, H. (2008). Concentrations of heavy metals in fly ash from a coal-fired power plant with respect to the new Finnish limit values. Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management, 10, 87–92. doi:10.1007/s10163-007-0189-6.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Facchinelli, A., Sacchi, E., & Mallen, L. (2001). Multivariate statistical and GIS-based approach to identify heavy metal sources in soils. Environmental Pollution, 114, 313–324.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gibbs, R. J. (1973). Water chemistry of the Amazon River. Geochimica Cosmochimica Acta, 36, 1006–1066.

    Google Scholar 

  • Giripunje, M. D., Fulke, A. B., & Meshram, P. U. (2014). Effect of idol immersion on water quality and tilapia fish in Futala, Gandhisagar and Ambazari lakes of Nagpur, India. SpringerPlus., 3, 669. doi:10.1186/2193-1801-3-669.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Goutam, K., Manoj, K., & Ramanathan, A. L. (2015). Assessment of heavy metal contamination in the surface sediments in the mangrove ecosystem of Gulf of Kachchh, west coast of India. Environment and Earth Science, 74, 545–556. doi:10.1007/s12665-015-4062-y.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Govindasamy, C., Kannan, L., & Jayapaul, A. (2000). Seasonal variation in physico-chemical properties and primary production in the coastal water biotopes of Coromandel coast, India. Journal of Environmental Biology, 21, 1–7.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gu, Y., Wang, Z., Lu, S., Jiang, S., Mu, D., & Shu, Y. (2012). Multivariate statistical and GIS-based approach to identify source of anthropogenic impacts on metallic elements in sediments from the mid Guangdong coasts, China. Environmental Pollution, 163, 248–255. doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2011.12.041.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hall, L. W. J., Scott, M. C., & Killen, W. D. (1997). A screening level probabilistic ecological risk assessment of copper and cadmium in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Annapoils, MD: Chesapeake Bay Program.USEPA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hollert, H., Keiter, S., Konig, N., Rudolf, M., Ulrich, M., & Braunbeck, T. (2003). A new sediment contact assay to assess particulate bound pollutants using zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos. Journal of Soil Sediments, 3, 197–207 http://tnenvis.nic.in/tnenvis_old/coastal%20data.pdf.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Janaki Raman, D., Jonathan, M. P., Srinivasalu, S., Armstrong-Altrin, J. S., Mohan, S. P., & Ram-Mohan, V. (2007). Trace metal enrichments in core sediments in Muthupet mangroves, SE coast of India: application of acid leachable technique. Environmental Pollution, 145, 245–257.

  • Jonathan, M. P., Srinivasalu, S., Thangadurai, N., Armstrong-Altrin, J. S., Ayyamperumal, T., & Ram-Mohan, V. (2008). Contamination of Uppanar River and coastal waters off Cuddalore, southeast coast of India. Environmental Geology, 53, 1391–1404. doi:10.1007/s00254-007-0748-0.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kannan, L., Paramasivam, S., Seenivasan, R., & Nadimuthu, N. (2003). Impact of shrimp farm activities on the water quality of Muthupettai mangrove environment, southeast coast of India. In A. L. Ramanathan & R. Ramesh (Eds.), Recent trends in hydrogeochemistry (pp. 87–92). New Delhi: Capital Publishing Company.

    Google Scholar 

  • Karbassi, A. R., Monavari, S. M., Nabi Bidhendi, G. H. R., Nouri, J., & Nematpour, K. (2008). Metal pollution assessment of sediment and water in the Shur River. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 147, 107–116. doi:10.1007/s10661-007-0102-8.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Krauss, K. W., Lovelock, C. E., & McKee, K. L. (2008). Environmental drivers in mangrove establishment and early development: a review. Aquatic Botany, 89, 105–127. doi:10.1016/j.aquabot.2007.12.014.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kumar, R. N., Solanki, R., & Kumar, J. (2013). Seasonal variation in heavy metal contamination in water and sediments of river Sabarmati and Kharicut canal at Ahmedabad, Gujarat. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 185, 359–368. doi:10.1007/s10661-012-2558-4.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Langston, W. J. (1986). Metals in sediments and benthic organisms in the Mersey estuary. East. Coast. Shelf Sci., 23, 239–261. doi:10.1016/0269-7491(92)90099-V.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li, R., Li, R., Chai, M., Shen, X., Xu, H., & Qiu, G. (2015). Heavy metal contamination and ecological risk in Futian mangrove forest sediment in Shenzhen Bay South China. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 101(1), 448–456. doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2015.09.048.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Luoma, S. N., & Bryan, G. W. (1981). A statistical assessment of the form of trace metals in oxidized estuarine sediments employing chemical extractants. Science of the Total Environment, 17, 165–196. doi:10.1016/0048-9697(81)90182-0.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mackey, K., Labiosa, R., Calhoun, M., Street, J., Post, A., & Paytan, A. (2007). Phosphorus availability, phytoplankton community dynamics, and taxon-specific phosphorus status in the Gulf of Aqaba, Red Sea. Limnol. Oceangr., 52(2), 873–885. doi:10.4319/lo.2007.52.2.0873.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Manju, P., Nair, Akhil, P. S., & Sujatha, C. H. (2014). Toxic metal distribution in the core sediment of Cochin Estuarine System (CES). Int. J. Environ. Res., 8(1), 133–138.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mastallar, M. C. (1996). Destruction of mangrove wetlands—causes and consequences. Natural. Res. Dev., 43, 37–57.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mathivanan, K., & Rajaram, R. (2014). Anthropogenic influences on toxic metals in water and sediment samples collected from industrially polluted Cuddalore coast, southeast coast of India. Environment and Earth Science, 72, 997–1010. doi:10.1007/s12665-013-3017-4.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Muller, G. (1979). Schwermetalle in den Sedimenten des Rheins Veranderungen seit. Umschau, 79(24), 778–783.

    Google Scholar 

  • Paramasivam, S., & Kannan, L. (2005). Physico-chemical characteristics of muthupettai mangrove environment southeast coast of India. International Journal of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, 31, 273–278.

    Google Scholar 

  • Prasanna, M. V., Praveena, S. M., Chidambaram, S., Nagarajan, R., & Elayaraja, A. (2012). Evaluation of water quality pollution indices for heavy metal contamination monitoring: a case study from Curtin Lake, Miri City, East Malaysia. Environment and Earth Science, 67, 1987–2001. doi:10.1007/s12665-012-1639-6.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Priya, K. L., Jegathambal, P., James, E. J. (2014). Trace metal distribution in a shallow estuary. Toxicological and Environmental Chemistry, 96, 579–593.

  • Qiao, M., Cai, C., Huang, Y., Liu, Y., Lin, A., & Zheng, Y. (2010). Characterization of soil heavy metal contamination and potential health risk in metropolitan region of northern China. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 172, 353–365. doi:10.1007/s10661-010-1339-1.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rajaram, R., Srinivasan, M., & Rajasegar, M. (2005). Seasonal distribution of physico-chemical parameters in effluent discharge area of Uppanar estuary, Cuddalore, south-east coast of India. Journal of Environmental Biology, 26, 291–297.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rajasegar, M. (2003). Physico-chemical characteristics of the Vellar estuary in relation to shrimp farming. Journal of Environmental Biology, 24, 95–101.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ramesh, R., Nammalwar, P., Gowri, V.S., 2008. Database on Coastal Information of Tamilnadu.

  • Sadip, R., Husain, T., Bose, N., & Veitch, B. (2003). Distribution of heavy metals in sediment pore water due to offshore discharges: an ecological risk assessment. Environmental Modelling & Software, 18, 451–461.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sandilyan, S., & Kathiresan, K. (2012). Mangrove conservation: a global perspective. Biodiversity and Conservation, 21, 3523–3542. doi:10.1007/s10531-012-0388-x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sankar, R., Ramkumar, L., Rajkumar, M., Sun, J., & Ananthan, G. (2010). Seasonal variations in physico-chemical parameters and heavy metals in water and sediments of Uppanar estuary, Nagapattinam, India. Journal of Environmental Biology, 31(5), 681–686.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sliwka-Kaszynska, M., Kot-Wasik, A., & Namiesnik, J. (2003). Preservation and storage of water samples. Crit. Rev. Env. Sci. Tec., 33(1), 31–44. doi:10.1080/10643380390814442.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sridhar, R., Thangaradjou, T., Senthil Kumar, S., & Kannan, L. (2006). Water quality and phytoplankton characteristics in the Palk Bay, southeast coast of India. Journal of Environmental Biology, 27, 561–566.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tam, N. F. Y., & Wong, Y. S. (2000). Spatial variation of heavy metals in surface sediments of Hong Kong mangrove swamps. Environmental Pollution, 110, 195–205. doi:10.1016/S0269-7491(99)00310-3.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Taylor, S. R., & McLennan, S. M. (1985). The continental crust: Its composition and evolution. Oxford: Blackwell.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thilagavathi, B., Raja, K., Bandana Das, K., Saravanakumar, A., Vijayalakshmi, S., & Balasubramanian, T. (2011). Heavy metal distribution in sediments of Muthupettai mangroves, South East Coast of India. Journal of Ocean University of China, 10, 385–390.

  • Usha Natesan, M., Kumar, M., & Deepthi, K. (2014). Mangrove sediments a sink for heavy metals? An assessment of Muthupet mangroves of Tamil Nadu, southeast coast of India. Environmental Earth Sciences, 72(4), 1255–1270. doi:10.1007/s12665-014-3043-x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Valiela, I., Bowen, J. L., & York, J. K. (2001). Mangrove forests: one of the world’s threatened major in tropical environments. Bioscience, 10, 807–815 (doi: 10.1641/00063568(2001)051[0807:MFOOTW]2.0.CO;2) 10.1641/00063568(2001)051[0807:MFOOTW]2.0.CO;2).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vyas, A., Bajpai, A., Verma, N., & Dixit, S. (2007). Heavy metal contamination cause of idol immersion activities in urban lake Bhopal, India. Journal Application Science Environmental Management, 11, 37–39.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wu, Q. Q., Ma, Q. M., Wang, J. G., Jiang, Z. H., & Wang, X. L. (2007). The AVS in surface sediment of near sea area of Huanghe estuary. Marine Environmental Science, 26, 126–129.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wu, Q. H., Tam, N. F. Y., Leung, J. Y. S., Zhou, X. Z., Fu, J., Yao, B., Huang, X. X., & Xia, L. H. (2014). Ecological risk and pollution history of heavy metals in Nansha mangrove, South China. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, 104, 143–151. doi:10.1016/j.ecoenv.2014.02.017.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Younis, A.M., El-Zokm, G.M., & Okbah, M.A. (2014). Spatial variation of acid-volatile sulfide and simultaneously extracted metals in Egyptian Mediterranean Sea lagoon sediments. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 186, 3567–3579.

  • Zhang, C. (2006). Using multivariate analyses and GIS to identify pollutants and their spatial patterns in urban soils in Galway, Ireland. Environmental Pollution, 501–511. doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2005.10.028.

Download references

Acknowledgements

All the authors are thankful to the authorities of Bharathidasan University for providing the necessary facilities to conduct this study; the authors are also thankful to the Ministry of Earth Science, Government of India (Ref. No.: MoES/36/OOIS/Extra./9/2013) for providing the financial assistance.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Marine Science, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, 620 024, India

    Rajendran Rajaram, Arumugam Ganeshkumar, Shanmugam Vinothkumar & Sethu Rameshkumar

Authors
  1. Rajendran Rajaram
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Arumugam Ganeshkumar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Shanmugam Vinothkumar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Sethu Rameshkumar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Rajendran Rajaram.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Rajaram, R., Ganeshkumar, A., Vinothkumar, S. et al. Multivariate statistical and GIS-based approaches for toxic metals in tropical mangrove ecosystem, southeast coast of India. Environ Monit Assess 189, 288 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-017-5980-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-017-5980-9

Keywords

Search

Navigation