title: Spatial variability of heavy metals in estuarine, mangrove and coastal ecosystems along Parangipettai, Southeast coast of India.
abstract: An elaborate survey on the contamination of heavy metals was carried out in surface sediments of different ecosystems such as Vellar-Coleroon estuarine, Pichavaram mangrove and coastal region of Parangipettai, Southeast coast of India. The study was intended since, the coal based thermal power plant and oil refinery plant are proposed to set up along this coast and aquaculture industries and dredging activities are developing. The parameters such as soil texture, pH, total organic carbon (TOC) and heavy metal (Fe, Mn, Cu, Cd, Zn and Ni) concentrations were analyzed for the surface sediments during pre and postmonsoon seasons. Among the metals analyzed, Fe and Mn were found to have dominant as the levels were recorded as 11,804 μg g-1and 845.2 μg g-1respectively. A significant correlation was observed between total organic carbon (TOC) and heavy metals. In the mangrove ecosystem, the levels of heavy metals found to be maximum indicating that the rich organic matter acts as an efficient binding agent for metals. The overall finding of the present study indicated that the sediments from the entire Vellar-Coleroon estuarine and Pichavaram mangrove ecosystems were found moderately polluted with cadmium metal. The result of cluster analysis indicated disparity in accumulation of heavy metals in sediments of different ecosystems due to the variations in organic matter. The heavy metals were transported from land to coastal through flood during monsoon season reflecting the variations in their levels in different ecosystems at postmonsoon season.
authors: Centre of Advanced Study in Marine Biology, Faculty of Marine Sciences, Annamalai University, Parangipettai, Tamil Nadu, India. Electronic address: fish_lar@yahoo.com.
authors: Arumugam
authors: A
authors: Sundaramanickam
authors: Department of Physics, Annamalai University, Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors: Nadanasabesan
authors: N
authors: Shanmugam
authors: Department of Physics, Arignar Anna College (Arts & Science) Krishnagiri, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors: Shanmugam
authors: S
authors: Cholan
authors: Centre of Advanced Study in Marine Biology, Faculty of Marine Sciences, Annamalai University, Parangipettai, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors: Saravanan
authors: S
authors: Kumaresan
authors: Integrated Coastal and Marine Area Management Project Directorate (ICMAM PD), NIOT Campus, Velacherry-Tambaram Main Road, Pallikkaranai, Chennai, 600100, India.
authors: Perumal
authors: P
authors: Madeswaran
authors: Centre of Advanced Study in Marine Biology, Faculty of Marine Sciences, Annamalai University, Parangipettai, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors: Thangavel
authors: T
authors: Balasubramanian
mesh_terms: D017753:Ecosystem; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D004787:Environmental Pollution / Q000032:analysis*; D063366:Estuaries; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry*; D007194:India; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis*; D011210:Power Plants; D012621:Seasons; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*; D053833:Wetlands
chemical_list: D019216:Metals, Heavy; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
keywords: Aquatic pollution; Heavy metal; Mangrove environment; Sediment quality