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Geochemical characteristics of surficial sediments in
Thambraparani Estuary: impact of Industrial discharge
Arya Viswam 1 , Nethaji.S 1 , Renuka.E 1 and Jayaprakash.M 1
1
Department of Applied Geology, University of Madras, Chennai-600 025,
Tamilnadu, INDIA.
ABSTRACT
The article presents the results for enrichment of acid-leachable trace
metals (ALTMs) from Palazya Kayal in Thambraparani Estuary, on the
southeast coast of India. ALTMs Fe, Mn, Cr, Cu, Ni, Co, Pb, Zn and Cd
along with sediment texture, OC and CaCO3 were analysed in surface
sediments collected during two different seasons, pre-monsoon (PRM)
and post-monsoon (POM) seasons to identify and observe the input of
trace metals in the estuary from various sources in the estuarine area. The
most prominent feature of the ALTMs is the enrichment of Fe, Cr, Cu, Ni,
Pb and Zn in the sediments, which is mainly attributed to the intense
industrial activities around Tuticorin, and to the rapid industrialization
policies. The ALTMs also indicate their association with the finer fractions,
OC and Fe, Mn ox hydroxides. The enhanced preservation of organic
carbon in fine-grained sediments has led to contamination of trace
metals due to the preferential sadsorption of metal scavenging phases
like Fe/Mn hydrolysates in view of the larger grain surface areas provided
by the fine sediments (Förstner.,1983, Usero Garcia et al., 1997, Thuy et al.,
2000 and Bradl, 2004).The enrichment is very well supported by the
correlation, grouping and clustering of ALTMs in statistical analysis. The
differential behaviour of ALTMs in POM season compared to PRM season
is possibly due to the excess level of industrial effluents in the channel
feeding Thambraparani Estuary. Comparative results of ALTMs with other
estuarine regions also indicate that the study area has been enriched
with trace metals during the past two decades. The results of the present
study suggest the need for a regular monitoring program which will help
to improve the quality of Thambraparani Estuary.
References
1, U. Förstner., Assessment of metal pollution in rivers and estuaries, I.
Thornton (Ed.) Applied Environmental Geochemistry, Academic, London
(1983), pp. 395–423.
2. Usero Garcia, A. Morillo, I. Gracia Manarillo Contaminacion por
metales en sedimentos acua ticos. I Metales en los ecosistemas
acuaticos (Metal Contamination in Aquatic Sediments), 17 (1997), pp.
44–50.
3, H.T.T. Thuy, H.J. Tobschall, P.V. An Trace element distributions in
aquatic sediments of Danange-Hoian area, Vietnam Environmental
Geology, 39 (2000), pp. 733–740.
4, H.B. Bradl Adsorption of heavy metal ions on soils and soils
constituents Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, 277 (2004), pp. 1–
18.
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