title: Trace metal enrichment and organic matter sources in the surface sediments of Arabian Sea along southwest India (Kerala coast).
abstract: The geochemical distribution and enrichment of trace metals (Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn) were determined in the surface sediments of Arabian Sea, along southwest India, Kerala coast. The results of geochemical indices indicated that surficial sediments of five transects are uncontaminated with respect to Mn, Zn and Cu, uncontaminated to moderately contaminated with Co and Ni, and moderately to strongly contaminated with Pb. The deposition of trace elements exhibited three different patterns i) Cd and Zn enhanced with settling biodetritus from the upwelled waters, ii) Pb, Co and Ni show higher enrichment, evidenced by the association through adsorption of iron-manganese nodules onto clay minerals and iii) Cu enrichment observed close to major urban sectors, initiated by the precipitation as Cu sulfides. Correlation, principal component analysis (PCA) and cluster analysis (CA) were used to confirm the origin information of metals and the nature of organic matter composition.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Oceanography, School of Marine Sciences, Cochin University of Science and Technology, Cochin 682016, Kerala, India.
authors.forename: Athira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sreekanth
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Oceanography, School of Marine Sciences, Cochin University of Science and Technology, Cochin 682016, Kerala, India.
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Mrudulrag
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Oceanography, School of Marine Sciences, Cochin University of Science and Technology, Cochin 682016, Kerala, India. Electronic address: eldhosecheriyanm@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Eldhose
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cheriyan
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Oceanography, School of Marine Sciences, Cochin University of Science and Technology, Cochin 682016, Kerala, India.
authors.forename: C H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Sujatha
mesh_terms: D000327:Adsorption; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry*; D006812:Humic Substances / Q000032:analysis*; D007194:India; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis*; D009792:Oceans and Seas; D025341:Principal Component Analysis; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000032:analysis*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D006812:Humic Substances; D019216:Metals, Heavy; D014131:Trace Elements; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
keywords: Arabian Sea; Pollution; Sediments; Trace metals