title: Geochemical assessment of heavy metals pollution in surface sediments of Vellar and Coleroon estuaries, southeast coast of India.
abstract: Surface sediments were collected from Vellar and Coleroon estuaries for determine sediment texture, calcium carbonate, organic matter and heavy metals. Pollution indices such as pollution load index (PLI), contamination factor (CF), enrichment factor (EF) and geo-accumulation index (Igeo) were done for this study to know the level of heavy metals pollution in the estuarine ecosystem. Pearson correlation matrix and factor were used to assess the relationship and source of heavy metals in the estuarine sediments. The results of PLI values reveal that the study area was polluted by all the heavy metals. The calculated values of CF and Igeofollowed the decreasing order Cu>Ni>Pb>Co>Cr>Zn>Mn>Fe and illustrate that Cu, Ni and Pb are contaminated due to anthropogenic sources in both estuaries. Correlation and factor analysis suggest that FeMn oxyhydroxides, organic matter and fine particles are responsible for high concentration of heavy metals.
authors.affiliation: Climate Change and Environmental Research Group (CERG), Department of Applied Geology, University of Madras, Chennai 600 025, Tamil Nadu, India. Electronic address: nethaji8667@gmail.com.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nethaji
authors.affiliation: Climate Change and Environmental Research Group (CERG), Department of Applied Geology, University of Madras, Chennai 600 025, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kalaivanan
authors.affiliation: Climate Change and Environmental Research Group (CERG), Department of Applied Geology, University of Madras, Chennai 600 025, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.lastname: Arya Viswam
authors.affiliation: Climate Change and Environmental Research Group (CERG), Department of Applied Geology, University of Madras, Chennai 600 025, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jayaprakash
mesh_terms: D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D063366:Estuaries; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry*; D007194:India; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D019216:Metals, Heavy; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
keywords: Contamination factor; Enrichment factor; Geo-accumulation index; Heavy metals; Pollution indices