title: Trace element contamination in the estuarine sediments along Tuticorin coast--Gulf of Mannar, southeast coast of India.
abstract: Sediment samples were collected from Kallar, Korampallam creek and Punnakayal estuaries of Tuticorin coast for assessing the level of contamination by trace elements in these estuarine sediments. The trace element concentration, calcium carbonate, organic carbon and mercury level were analyzed by Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrophotometer, Titrimetric method and SnCl2 reduction method. The results reveals that the enrichment factor, metal pollution index and geo-accumulation index of these estuarine sediments were predominantly polluted by Cd, As, Zn, Hg and Pb. The factor analysis revealed the source of trace element accumulation in the estuarine sediments particularly Mn and Fe are from riverine inputs and As and Hg from untreated industrial effluents. Among the selected estuaries, Korampallam creek was found to be highly contaminated by trace elements due to the discharge of effluents from thermal power plant, Tuticorin alkali chemicals, copper smelting, Petrochemical industries and shipping activities.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Geotechnology, Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu 627 012, India. mageshissivan@gmail.com
authors.forename: N S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Magesh
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Chandrasekar
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Krishna Kumar
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Glory
mesh_terms: D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D063366:Estuaries; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry*; D007194:India; D008670:Metals / Q000032:analysis; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000032:analysis*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D008670:Metals; D014131:Trace Elements; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
keywords: Enrichment factor; Estuarine sediments; Geo-accumulation index; Metal accumulation index; Trace elements; Tuticorin coast