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Risk assessment of heavy metals in Vembanad Lake sediments (south-west coast of India), based on acid-volatile sulfide (AVS)-simultaneously extracted metal (SEM) approach

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Abstract

Contamination of estuarine system due to heavy metals is a severe issue in tropical countries, especially in India. For the evaluation of the risk due to heavy metals, the current study assessed spatial and temporal variation of acid-volatile sulfide (AVS), simultaneously extracted metal (SEM), and total metal concentration as toxicity indicator of aquatic sediments in Vembanad Lake System (VLS), India. Surface sediment samples collected from 12 locations from the northern portion of VLS for 4 years during different seasons. The results suggest, in post-monsoon season, 91% of the sampling locations possessed high bioavailability of metals and results in toxicity to aquatic biota. The average seasonal distribution of SEM during the period of observations was in the order post-monsoon > pre-monsoon > monsoon (1.76 ± 2.00 > 1.35 ± 0.60 > 0.80 ± 0.54 μmol/g). The concentration of individual metals on ∑SEM are in the order SEM Zn > SEM Cu> SEM Cd ≈ SEM Pb > SEM Hg. Considering annual ΣSEM/AVS ratio, 83% of the sites cross the critical value of ‘One,’ reveals that active sulfide phase of the sediment for fixing the metals is saturated. The molar ratio (differences between SEM and AVS) and its normalized organic carbon ratio reveals that in the post-monsoon season, about 42% of the sites are in the category of adverse effects are possible. The study suggests the toxicity and mobility of the metals largely depend on the available AVS, and the current situation may pose harm to benthic organisms.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Climate Change Studies, Deepthi Nagar, Kanjikuzhi, Kottayam-4, Kerala, India

    Mohanachandran Nair Shyleshchandran

  2. School of Environmental Sciences, Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam, Kerala, India

    Mahesh Mohan & Eswara Venkatesaperumal Ramasamy

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  1. Mohanachandran Nair Shyleshchandran
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  2. Mahesh Mohan
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  3. Eswara Venkatesaperumal Ramasamy
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Correspondence to Mohanachandran Nair Shyleshchandran.

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Responsible editor: Philippe Garrigues

Highlights

• This study assessed spatial and temporal variation of acid-volatile sulfide (AVS), simultaneously extracted metal (SEM) and heavy metals in Vembanad Lake sediments.

• It is a first time report from an Indian estuarine system engaging SEM/AVS ratio as a toxicity index.

• Considering annual ΣSEM/AVS ratio, 83% of the sites cross the critical value of one, reveals that active sulfide phase of the sediment for fixing the metals is saturated.

• According to the sediment quality guidelines, 67–83% of the sites crossed threshold effect level (TEL) and probable effect level (PEL) for the metal Hg is a significant alarm on anthropogenic metal pollution.

• The molar ratio/differences between SEM and AVS and its normalized organic carbon ratio ((∑SEM-AVS)/ƒOC) reveals that in the post-monsoon season, about 42% of the sites are in the category of adverse effects are possible.

• Pollution load index revealed that 84% of sites belongs to the have anthropogenic metal contamination.

• The study suggests the ratio SEM/AVS > 1 in much of the location is a warning of heavy metal availability to benthic biota in this estuarine environment.

• The present study draws a special attention towards Cochin, one of the major fish-landing center in India and also a huge population exists in this region depending directly on this estuary for their livelihood.

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Shyleshchandran, M.N., Mohan, M. & Ramasamy, E.V. Risk assessment of heavy metals in Vembanad Lake sediments (south-west coast of India), based on acid-volatile sulfide (AVS)-simultaneously extracted metal (SEM) approach. Environ Sci Pollut Res 25, 7333–7345 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-017-0997-8

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