title: Assessment of trace element accumulation in surface sediments off Chennai coast after a major flood event.
abstract: The present study was conducted to assess the trace element concentration in marine surface sediments after major flood event of Chennai metropolis, India. Thirty surface samples were collected from off Chennai coast. Trace elements, organic matter, CaCO3, sand-silt-clay and C/N ratios were studied to understand the accumulation dynamics on sediments. The elemental concentration, calcium carbonate and OM distribution suggest that they are derived from urban runoff and transported through Adyar and Cooum Rivers. The enrichment factor reveals that the sediments are enriched by Pb, Cu, Zn, Cr, Co, Ni followed by Fe. The observed Igeo value shows that the samples are contaminated by Pb, Cu and Zn. The elemental concentration of the surface sediments is low when compared to other coastal region except Pb. The elevated level of Pb in the surface sediments is probably due to migration of contaminated urban soil from industrial and transportation sectors into marine environment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Geology, Anna University, Guindy Campus, Chennai, 600 025, India. Electronic address: veegopaal@gmail.com.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Gopal
authors.affiliation: Department of Geology, University of Madras, Guindy Campus, Chennai, 600 025, India. Electronic address: coralkrishna@yahoo.co.in.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Krishnakumar
authors.affiliation: Centre for GeoTechnology, Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Tirunelveli 62701, India. Electronic address: tnoblesimon@gmail.com.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Simon Peter
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Geology, University of Madras, Guindy Campus, Chennai 600 025, India. Electronic address: nethaji8667@gmail.com.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nethaji
authors.affiliation: Department of Geology, University of Madras, Guindy Campus, Chennai, 600 025, India. Electronic address: sureshgeo333@gmail.com.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Suresh Kumar
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Geology, University of Madras, Guindy Campus, Chennai 600 025, India. Electronic address: emjaypee@gmail.com.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jayaprakash
authors.affiliation: Department of Geology, Anna University, Guindy Campus, Chennai, 600 025, India. Electronic address: mageshissivan@gmail.com.
authors.forename: N S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Magesh
mesh_terms: D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D055868:Floods; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry; D007194:India; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis; D045483:Rivers; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000032:analysis*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D019216:Metals, Heavy; D014131:Trace Elements; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
keywords: Chennai coast; Major flood events; Metal accumulation indexes; Surface sediments; Trace element concentration; Urban runoff