Spatial and temporal variability of metals in inter-tidal beach sediment of Mumbai, India

Abstract

Nine metals were monitored in the beach sediment in Mumbai from May 2011 to March 2012 to evaluate the spatial and temporal distributions. The average heavy metal concentrations exhibited the following order: Fe > Mn > Cr > Co > Ni > Pb > Zn > Cu > Cd for the four sampling sites. The mean concentrations (± SD) of Fe, Mn, Cr, Co, Ni, Pb, Zn, Cu and Cd were estimated to be 31.15 ± 10.02 g kg(-1), 535.04 ± 76.42, 151.98 ± 97.90, 92.76 ± 14.18, 67.52 ± 11.32, 59.57 ± 15.19, 54.65 ± 15.01, 32.24 ± 8.07 and 18.75 ± 1.76 mg kg(-1), respectively. The results indicated that the sediments were polluted with Cd, Cr, Co and Pb due to high anthropogenic influences. Spatial variation of metals revealed that most of the metals were high in Dadar beach and low in Aksa beach. Cd was the highest contaminant metal studied with a mean contamination factor of 93.75. The pollution load indices of the studied beaches ranged from 1.63 (Aksa) to 1.91 (Dadar) and indicated that the beach sediments were polluted with heavy metals. The heavy metal contents increased in relation to monsoon, and most of the heavy metals showed significantly high concentrations in November during the post-monsoon. The statistical analysis revealed significant effect of study site on all the metals studied. Further, there was a significant difference on metal accumulation on bimonthly basis in relation to weather pattern in Mumbai beaches.

Understanding Role of Foraminifera in Environmental Studies: A Review

“…However, increased urbanization and industrialization have resulted in an increase in marine discharges transporting heavy metals to coastal metropolitan areas. Metals on the other hand, occur naturally and may enter the aquatic system through rock leaching, airborne dust, forest fires and plants (Jayasiri et al 2014). Jayaraju (2011) showed a greater variance in the density and variety of foraminifera in the study location due to the iron ore dust element suspended in the water.…”

“…The toxic element concentration patterns compared with the distribution of benthic foraminifera revealed a possible control of the chemical system on benthic foram, as Ammonia tepida, dominant in the Levante dock, acted as an important chemical stress, whereas Quinqueloculina sp., acted as a benthic species very sensitive to pollution with heavy metal (Ferraro et al 2006). Heavy metal concentrations were higher in the sediments of Dadar and Versova beaches, which can be linked to the areas anthropogenic activities and geomorphology (Jayasiri et al 2014). The deterioration was most noticeable near Dadar, where the effect of highly contaminated flows through Mahim Creek is thought to be the primary cause (Ingole and Kadam 2003).…”

Effect of Cobalt on the Environment and Living Organisms - A Review

“…The result is substantial cobalt accumulation in the bottom sediments of both fresh and salt waters (Sukdeo et al, 2012;Ghandour et al, 2014), where its content in the sediments of flowing surface waters is around 13 mg•kg -1 . According to Jayasiri et al (2014) the cobalt sedimentation rate is affected by climatic conditions and seasonal fluctuations (Mohiuddin et al, 2012). The mobility and solubility of this element in bottom sediments is determined mainly by its form (Wu et al, 2012) and sorption processes occurring between cobalt ions and negatively-charged sediment molecules (Jayasiri et al, 2014).…”

“…According to Jayasiri et al (2014) the cobalt sedimentation rate is affected by climatic conditions and seasonal fluctuations (Mohiuddin et al, 2012). The mobility and solubility of this element in bottom sediments is determined mainly by its form (Wu et al, 2012) and sorption processes occurring between cobalt ions and negatively-charged sediment molecules (Jayasiri et al, 2014). As a result of changing physicochemical conditions, cobalt in sediments may be re-released to water (Sukdeo et al, 2012;Zamani-Hargalani et al, 2014).…”