Comprehensive study on metal contents and their ecological risks in beach sediments of KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa

E. Vetrimurugan; V. C. Shruti; M. P. Jonathan; Priyadarsi D. Roy; S. K. Sarkar; B. K. Rawlins; Lorena Elizabeth Campos Villegas

doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2019.110555

Comprehensive study on metal contents and their ecological risks in beach sediments of KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa

E. Vetrimurugan, V. C. Shruti, M. P. Jonathan, Priyadarsi D. Roy, S. K. Sarkar, B. K. Rawlins, Lorena Elizabeth Campos Villegas

Centro Interdisciplinario de Investigaciones y Estudios sobre Medio Ambiente y Desarrollo (CIIEMAD)

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

26 Scopus citations

Abstract

Sediment metal concentrations were assessed in five different beach regions (n = 183) of KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) province in South Africa. Metal distribution revealed that Cr, Cu, Mo, Cd, Zn, Hg and As exceed the background upper continental crust values suggesting their anthropogenic origin (mining, agricultural and industrial) apart from natural geological inputs (gold placer deposits and heavy minerals). Various geochemical indices (Geoaccumulation index, Enrichment factor and Degree of contamination) confirmed that the sediment samples are extremely contaminated with Cr, Cd and Hg. Further, Hg and Cd were main contributors (60–90%) to the ecological threat in sediments. Hazard index estimated a high hazard potential of Hg in near future. Finally, present study together with our previous results portray the status of KZN coast with special significance to Hg contamination/enrichment. Thus, future researches are recommended to investigate the environmental and human health implications of mercury exposure in this coastal province.

Original language	English
Article number	110555
Journal	Marine Pollution Bulletin
Volume	149
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2019.110555
State	Published - Dec 2019

Keywords

Ecological risks
Geochemical indices
Metal concentration
Sediment
South Africa

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1016/j.marpolbul.2019.110555

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title = "Comprehensive study on metal contents and their ecological risks in beach sediments of KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa",

abstract = "Sediment metal concentrations were assessed in five different beach regions (n = 183) of KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) province in South Africa. Metal distribution revealed that Cr, Cu, Mo, Cd, Zn, Hg and As exceed the background upper continental crust values suggesting their anthropogenic origin (mining, agricultural and industrial) apart from natural geological inputs (gold placer deposits and heavy minerals). Various geochemical indices (Geoaccumulation index, Enrichment factor and Degree of contamination) confirmed that the sediment samples are extremely contaminated with Cr, Cd and Hg. Further, Hg and Cd were main contributors (60–90%) to the ecological threat in sediments. Hazard index estimated a high hazard potential of Hg in near future. Finally, present study together with our previous results portray the status of KZN coast with special significance to Hg contamination/enrichment. Thus, future researches are recommended to investigate the environmental and human health implications of mercury exposure in this coastal province.",

keywords = "Ecological risks, Geochemical indices, Metal concentration, Sediment, South Africa",

author = "E. Vetrimurugan and Shruti, {V. C.} and Jonathan, {M. P.} and Roy, {Priyadarsi D.} and Sarkar, {S. K.} and Rawlins, {B. K.} and Villegas, {Lorena Elizabeth Campos}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2019 Elsevier Ltd",

year = "2019",

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doi = "10.1016/j.marpolbul.2019.110555",

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T1 - Comprehensive study on metal contents and their ecological risks in beach sediments of KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa

AU - Vetrimurugan, E.

AU - Shruti, V. C.

AU - Jonathan, M. P.

AU - Roy, Priyadarsi D.

AU - Sarkar, S. K.

AU - Rawlins, B. K.

AU - Villegas, Lorena Elizabeth Campos

PY - 2019/12

Y1 - 2019/12

N2 - Sediment metal concentrations were assessed in five different beach regions (n = 183) of KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) province in South Africa. Metal distribution revealed that Cr, Cu, Mo, Cd, Zn, Hg and As exceed the background upper continental crust values suggesting their anthropogenic origin (mining, agricultural and industrial) apart from natural geological inputs (gold placer deposits and heavy minerals). Various geochemical indices (Geoaccumulation index, Enrichment factor and Degree of contamination) confirmed that the sediment samples are extremely contaminated with Cr, Cd and Hg. Further, Hg and Cd were main contributors (60–90%) to the ecological threat in sediments. Hazard index estimated a high hazard potential of Hg in near future. Finally, present study together with our previous results portray the status of KZN coast with special significance to Hg contamination/enrichment. Thus, future researches are recommended to investigate the environmental and human health implications of mercury exposure in this coastal province.

AB - Sediment metal concentrations were assessed in five different beach regions (n = 183) of KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) province in South Africa. Metal distribution revealed that Cr, Cu, Mo, Cd, Zn, Hg and As exceed the background upper continental crust values suggesting their anthropogenic origin (mining, agricultural and industrial) apart from natural geological inputs (gold placer deposits and heavy minerals). Various geochemical indices (Geoaccumulation index, Enrichment factor and Degree of contamination) confirmed that the sediment samples are extremely contaminated with Cr, Cd and Hg. Further, Hg and Cd were main contributors (60–90%) to the ecological threat in sediments. Hazard index estimated a high hazard potential of Hg in near future. Finally, present study together with our previous results portray the status of KZN coast with special significance to Hg contamination/enrichment. Thus, future researches are recommended to investigate the environmental and human health implications of mercury exposure in this coastal province.

KW - Ecological risks

KW - Geochemical indices

KW - Metal concentration

KW - Sediment

KW - South Africa

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U2 - 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2019.110555

DO - 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2019.110555

M3 - Artículo

C2 - 31542597

AN - SCOPUS:85071885226

SN - 0025-326X

VL - 149

JO - Marine Pollution Bulletin

JF - Marine Pollution Bulletin

M1 - 110555

ER -

Comprehensive study on metal contents and their ecological risks in beach sediments of KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa

Abstract

Keywords

UN SDGs

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