Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Mobilization of trace metals in a tropical turbid estuary influenced by a monsoon season

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Environmental Earth Sciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The selective removal of trace metals by suspended matter in high turbidity zones plays a major role in the fluvial transport of terrigenous metals to the marine environment. The seasonal longitudinal variability of trace elements (Cu, Zn, Cd, Ni, Pb, Fe, and Mn) in Cochin estuary, a tropical positive estuary, was studied and the results were compared with the prevailing situation in other subtropical waterways. The hydrodynamical features showed increasing turbidity downstream with increasing salinities during both the seasons. In contrast with the temperate estuaries where the development of turbidity maxima causes the removal of metals, the estuaries of tropics modify the fluvial transport of metals by the way of redistribution between the dissolved and particulate fractions in the intermediate salinities. In Cochin estuary, the distributional features of trace metals are primarily influenced by the variations in salinities and river discharges. Consequently, this gives rise to two different types of distributional patterns: (1) during premonsoon, the estuarine reactivity is more pronounced and hence, mid-estuarine solubilization of the particulate metal appears to play a prominent role in controlling the fluxes of trace metals studied and (2) but during monsoon, the hydrological conditions influence the downstream transport of the metals more by physical dilution than chemical reactivity.

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
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Anju AK, Dipu S, Sobha V (2011) Seasonal variation of heavy metals in cochin estuary and adjoining Periyar and Muvattupuzha rivers, Kerala, India. Glob J Environ Res 5:15–20

    Google Scholar 

  • Baeyens W, Elskens M, Gillain G, Goeyens L (1998) Biogeochemical behaviour of Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn in the Scheldt estuary during the period 1981–1983. Hydrobiologia 366:15–44

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baeyens W, Leermakers M, Gieter MD, Nguyen HL I, Parmentier K, Panutrakul S, Elskens M (2005) Overview of trace metal contamination in the Scheldt estuary and effect of regulatory measures. Hydrobiologia 540:141–154

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Balchand AN, Rasheed K (2000) Assessment of short term environmental impacts on dredging in a tropical estuary. Terra et Aqua 79:16–26

    Google Scholar 

  • Barua P, Mitra A, Banerjee K, Chowdhury MSN (2011) Seasonal variation of heavy metals accumulation in water and oyster (Saccostrea cucullata) inhabiting central and western sector of Indian sundarbans. Environ Res J 5:121–130

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Beck AJ, Cochran JK, Sañudo-Wilhelmy SA (2009) Temporal trends of dissolved trace metals in Jamaica Bay, NY: importance of wastewater input and submarine groundwater discharge in an Urban Estuary. Estuar Coast 32:535–550

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Beck AJ, Cochran JK, Sañudo-Wilhelmy SA (2010) The distribution and speciation of dissolved trace metals in a shallow subterranean estuary. Mar Chem 12:145–156

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Beck M, Dellwig O, Fischer S, Schnetger B, Brumsack HJ (2012) Trace metal geochemistry of organic carbon-rich watercourses draining the NW German coast. Estuar Coast Shelf Sci 104(105):66–79

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bender ML, Klinkhammer GP, Spencer DW (1977) Manganese in sea water and the marine manganese balance. Deep Sea Res 24:799–812

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bewers JM, Yeats PA (1978) Trace metals in the waters of a partially mixed estuary. Estuar Coast Mar Sci 7:147–162

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Biggs BR, Sharp JH, Church TM, Tramontano JM (1983) Optical properties, suspended sediments, and chemistry associated with the turbidity maxima of the Delaware Estuary. Can J Fish Aquat Sci 40:172–177

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bourg ACM (1983) Role of fresh water/sea water mixing on the trace metal adsorption phenomena. In: Wong CS, Burton JD, Boyle E, Bruland K, Goldberg ED (eds) Trace metals in sea water. Plenum Press, New York, p 195

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Boyle EA, Collier R, Dengler AT, Edmond JM, Ng AC, Stallard RF (1974) On the geochemical mass balance in the estuaries. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 38:1719–1728

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Boyle EA, Edmond JM, Sholkovitz ER (1977) The mechanism of iron removal in the estuaries. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 41:1313–1324

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Church TM, Tramontano JM (1984) Heavy metal biogeochemistry in the Delaware estuary. Int Conf of Heavy Metals in the environ 2:1276–1279

    Google Scholar 

  • Cochran JK (2003) Short-lived U/Th series radionuclides in the ocean: tracers for scavenging rates, export fluxes and particle dynamics. Rev Minerol Geochem 52:461–492

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Crowe SA, Roberts JA, Weisnener CG, Fowle DA (2006) Alteration of iron-rich lacustrine sediments by dissimilatory iron-reducing bacteria. Geobiol 1:11

    Google Scholar 

  • Danielsson LG, Magnusson B, Westerlund S (1978) An improved metal extraction procedure for the determination of trace metal in sea water by atomic absorption spectrometry with electrothermal atomization. Anal Chim Acta 98:47–57

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Danielsson LG, Magnusson B, Westerlund S, Zhang K (1982) Trace metal determination in the estuarine waters by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry after extraction of dithiocarbamate complexes into freon. Anal Chim Acta 144:183–188

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Degui T, Kent WW, Peter HS (2002) Distribution and partitioning of trace metals (Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn) in Galveston Bay waters. Mar Chem 78:29–45

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Duinker JC, Notling RF (1977) Dissolved and particulate trace metals in the Rhine estuary and the Southern Bight. Mar Pollut Bull 8:65–71

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Elbaz-Poulichet F, Martin JM, Huang WW, Zhu JX (1987) Dissolved Cd behaviour in some selected French and Chinese estuaries—Consequences on Cd supply to the ocean. Mar Chem 22:125–136

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Elderfild H (1976) Manganese fluxes to the oceans. Mar Chem 4:103–132

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Erses SA, Onay TT (2003) In situ heavy metal attenuation in landfills under methanogenic conditions. J Hazard Mater B99:159–175

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fang TH, Lin CL (2002) Dissolved and particulate trace metals and their partitioning in a hypoxic estuary: the Tanshui Estuary in northern Taiwan. Estuaries 25:598–607

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Feely RA, Massoth GJ, Lamb MF (1983) The effect of sewage effluents on the flocculation of major and trace elements in a stratified estuary. In: Wong CS, Boyle EA, Bruland KW, Burton JD, Goldberg ED (eds) Trace metals in seawater. Plenum Press, New York, pp 227–244

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Forstner U, Wittmann GT (1979) Metal pollution in the aquatic environment. Springer, Berlin, pp 217–236

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Gebhardt AC, Schoster F, Gaye HB, Beeskow B, Rachold V, Unger D, Ittekkot V (2005) The turbidity maximum zone of the Yenisei River (Siberia) and its impact on organic and inorganic proxies. Estuar Coast Shelf Sci 65:61–73

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Griffin DA, Leblond PH (1990) Estuary/ocean exchange controlled by spring – neap tidal mixing. Estuar Coast Shelf Sci 30:275–298

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hatje V, Birch GF, Hill DM (2001) Spatial and temporal variability of particulate trace metals in Port Jackson estuary, Australia. Estuar Coast Shelf Sci 53:63–77

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hatje V, Apte SC, Hales LT, Birch GF (2003) Dissolved trace metal distributions in Port Jackson estuary (Sydney Harbour), Australia. Mar Pollut Bull 46:719–730

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jiann KT, Wen LS (2009) Intra-annual variability of distribution patterns and fluxes of dissolved trace metals in a subtropical estuary (Danshuei River), Taiwan. J Mar Syst 75:87–99

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jiann KT, Wen LS, Santschi PH (2005) Trace metal (Cd, Cu, Ni and Pb) partitioning, affinities and removal in the Danshuei River estuary, a macro-tidal, temporally anoxic estuary in Taiwan. Mar Chem 96:293–313

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jouanneau JM, Etcheber H, Latouche C (1983) Impoverishment and decrease of metallic elements associated with suspended matter in the Gironde estuary. In: Wong CS, Boyle E, Bruland KW, Eurton JD, Goldberg ED (eds) Trace metals in sea water. Plenum Press, New York, pp 245–264

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Karbassi AR, Ayaz GO (2007) Flocculation of Cu, Zn, Pb, Ni and Mn during mixing of Talar river water with Caspian seawater. Int J Environ Res 1:66–73

    Google Scholar 

  • Karbassi AR, Nouri J, Nabi Bidhendi GR, Ayaz GO (2008) Behavior of Cu, Zn, Pb, Ni and Mn during mixing of freshwater with the Caspian Sea water. Desalination 229:18–124

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Klinkhammer GP, Bender ML (1981) Trace metal distributions in the Hudson River estuary. Estuary Coast Shelf Sci 12:629–643

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kremmling K, Grasshoff K, Ehrhardt M (1983) Methods of seawater analysis. Verlag Chemie, Berlin

    Google Scholar 

  • Laluraj C, Kesavadas V, Balachandran KK, Vijay GJ, Martin G, Shaiju P, Revichandran C, Joseph T, Nair M (2007) Recovery of an estuary in the southwest coast of India from tsunami impacts. Environ Monit Assess 125:41–45

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mallick TK, Suchindian GK (1984) Some sedimentologial aspects of Vempanad lake, Kerala, West Cost of India. Indian J Mar Sci 13:159–163

    Google Scholar 

  • Martin GD, Vijay GJ, Laluraj CM, Madhu NV, Joseph T, Nair M, Gupta GVM, Balachandran KK (2007) Fresh water influence on nutrient stoichiometry in a tropical estuary, southwest coast of India. Appl Ecol Environ Res 6:57–64

    Google Scholar 

  • Menon MG, Gibbs RJ, Phillips A (1998) Accumulation of muds and metals in the Hudson River estuary turbidity maximum. Environ Geol 34:214–222

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Morris AW (1984) The chemistry of the Severn estuary and the Bristol channel. Mar Bull 15:57–61

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Morris AW (1986) Removal of trace metals in the very low salinity region of the Tamar Estuary, England. Sci Total Environ 49:297–304

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nair SM, Balchand AN, Nambisan PNK (1990) Metal concentrations in recently deposited sediments of Cochin backwaters. India. Sci Total Environ 97(98):507–524

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Robert S, Blanc G, Schafer J, Lavaux G, Abril G (2004) Metal mobilization in the Gironde Estuary (France): the role of the soft mud layer in the maximum turbidity zone. Mar Chem 87:1–13

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schmidt D (1990) Gradients of Trace Heavy Metal Concentrations in the Elbe Estuary. In: Michaelis W (ed) Estuarine water quality management. monitoring, modelling, and research, coastal and estuarine studies, Springer, Berlin, pp 443–448

  • Segar DA, Cantillo AY (1975) Direct determination of trace metals in sea water by atomic absorption spectrophotometery. In: Gibb TRPJr (ed) Analytical methods in oceanography, Advances in Chemistry Series 147, American Chemical Society, Washington, DC, pp 56–81

  • Shibu MP, Balchand AN, Nambisan PNK (1990) Trace metal speciation in a tropical estuary—significance of environmental factors. Sci Total Environ 97(98):267–288

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shoji DT, Balachandran KK, Gupta GVM, Madhu NV, Nair S (2008) Influence of allochthonous input on autotrophic–heterotrophic switch-over in shallow waters of a tropical estuary (Cochin Estuary), India. Estuar Coast Shelf Sci 78:551–562

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sottolichio A, Castaing P (1999) A synthesis on seasonal dynamics of highly-concentrated structures in the Gironde estuary. Earth Planet Sci 329:795–800

    Google Scholar 

  • Spiteri C, Regnier P, Slomp CP, Charette MA (2006) pH-dependent iron oxide precipitation in a subterranean estuary. J Geochem Explor 88:399–403

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Strickland JDH, Parsons TR (1972) A practical handbook of seawater analysis, 2nd edn. Bull Fish Res Bd Can 167:1–311

    Google Scholar 

  • Stumm W, Morgan JJ (1970) Aquatic chemistry. Wiley, New York, p 583

    Google Scholar 

  • Sundaray SK, Nayak BB, Kanungo TK, Bhatta D (2012) Dynamics and quantification of dissolved heavy metals in the Mahanadi River estuarine system India. Environ Monit Assess 184:1157–1179

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tahir NM, Suratman S, Shazili NAM, Ariffin MM, Amin MSM, Ariff NFMNI, Sulaiman WNHW (2008) Behaviour of water quality parameters during ebb tide in Dungun river estuary, Terengganu. J Sustain Sci Manage 3:1–10

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thomas DJ, Grill EV (1977) The effect of exchange reactions between Fraser River sediment and sea water on dissolved Cu and Zn concentration in the strait of Georgia. Estuar Coast Mar Sci 5:421

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Turner A, Nimmo M, Thuresson KA (1998) Speciation and sorptive behaviour of nickel in an organic-rich estuary (Beaulieu, UK). Mar Chem 63:105–118

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Waeles M, Riso RD, Le Corre P (2005) Seasonal variations of dissolved and particulate copper species in estuarine waters. Estuar Coast and Shelf Sci 62:313–323

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang RM, You CF, Chu HY, Hung JJ (2009) Seasonal variability of dissolved major and trace elements in the Gaoping (Kaoping) river estuary, Southwestern Taiwan. J Mar Syst 76:444–456

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang ER, Zhang J (2003) Effect of pH on adsorption of several metals to suspended sediment in the Changjiang river estuary. Oceanol Limnol 34:267–273

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang YY, Zhang ÆER, Zhang ÆJ (2008) Modeling on adsorption–desorption of trace metals to suspended particle matter in the Changjiang estuary. Environ Geol 53:1751–1766

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhou JL, Liu YP, Abrahams PW (2003) Trace metal behaviour in the Conwy estuary, North Wales. Chemosphere 51:429–440

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

We thank Cochin University of Science and Technology for use of facilities. The authors gratefully acknowledge one of the Anonymous Referees for the careful reading and the valuable comments and suggestions to improve this article.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Marine Sciences, Cochin University of Science and Technology, Cochin, 682 016, India

    S. M. Nair, A. N. Balchand, K. J. Prashob Peter & P. Shaiju

Authors
  1. S. M. Nair
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. A. N. Balchand
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. K. J. Prashob Peter
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. P. Shaiju
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to S. M. Nair.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Nair, S.M., Balchand, A.N., Prashob Peter, K.J. et al. Mobilization of trace metals in a tropical turbid estuary influenced by a monsoon season. Environ Earth Sci 70, 807–819 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-012-2170-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-012-2170-5

Keywords

Search

Navigation