Heavy metal assessment using geochemical and statistical tools in the surface sediments of Vembanad Lake, Southwest Coast of India

Abstract

The geochemical distribution and enrichment of ten heavy metals in the surface sediments of Vembanad Lake, southwest coast of India was evaluated. Sediment samples from 47 stations in the Lake were collected during dry and wet seasons in 2008 and examined for heavy metal content (Al, Fe, Mn, Cr, Zn, Ni, Pb, Cu, Co, Cd), organic carbon, and sediment texture. Statistically significant spatial variation was observed among all sediment variables, but negligible significant seasonal variation was observed. Correlation analysis showed that the metal content of sediments was mainly regulated by organic carbon, Fe oxy-hydroxides, and grain size. Principal component analysis was used to reduce the 14 sediment variables into three factors that reveal distinct origins or accumulation mechanisms controlling the chemical composition in the study area. Pollution intensity of the Vembanad Lake was measured using the enrichment factor and the pollution load index. Severe and moderately severe enrichment of Cd and Zn in the north estuary with minor enrichment of Pb and Cr were observed, which reflects the intensity of the anthropogenic inputs related to industrial discharge into this system. The results of pollution load index reveal that the sediment was heavily polluted in northern arm and moderately polluted in the extreme end and port region of the southern arm of the lake. A comparison with sediment quality guideline quotient was also made, indicating that there may be some ecotoxicological risk to benthic organisms in these sediments.

Lead distribution in coastal and estuarine sediments around India

“…The median concentration of Pb in estuarine and coastal sediment from this region was 33.3 mg kg À1 (Table 8). The total concentration of Pb in the sediments were found to vary from 0.15 to 176.87 mg kg À1 (Balachandran et al, 2006;Kumar and Edward, 2009;Sudhanandh et al, 2011;Martin et al, 2012;Nair and Ramachandran, 2002;Dipu and Kumar, 2013;Selvam et al, 2012). The highest concentration of Pb in sediment has been reported in Manakudy estuary (Kumar and Edward, 2009) and the lowest concentration of Pb has been found in the coastal sediments from this region (Nair and Sujatha, 2012).…”

Cadmium contamination of sediments in the water reservoirs in Silesian Upland (southern Poland)

“…Sediments in the Wadi Al-Arab Dam Reservoir in Jordan contain from 6 to 13 mg kg −1 of Cd (Ghrefat and Yusuf 2006). The bottom sediments of Vembanad Lake in India contain Cd at levels ranging from 0.07 to 10.5 mg kg −1 (Selvam et al 2013). The sediments of Lake Songkhla in Thailand contain <2.5 mg kg −1 of Cd (Pradit et al 2010(Pradit et al , 2013.…”

Bioaccumulation of Aluminium in Hydromacrophytes in Polish Coastal Lakes

“…This is confirmed by the results of many water bodies in and outside Po- (Sorenson et al 1974;Kovác et al 1985;Rodushkin et al 1995;Neal et al 2000;Järvinen et al 2002;Jordão et al 2002;Kozubek and Marek 2002;Guibaud et al 2003;Samecka-Cymerman and Kempers 2003;Samecka-Cymerman and Kempers 2004;Bojakowska et al 2010;Gunkel et al 2011;Senze et al 2011;Biel and Piaseczna 2012;Selvam et al 2012;Senze and Kowalska-Góralska 2013). A significant impact on the level of aluminium in water is their pH reaction.…”