TY - JOUR
T1 - Environmental conditions inferred from multi-element concentrations in sediments off Cauvery delta, Southeast India
AU - Silva, Judith D.
AU - Srinivasalu, S.
AU - Roy, P. D.
AU - Jonathan, M. P.
N1 - Funding Information:
Acknowledgments SS thanks the support by UGC (MRP—F. No.: 39-137/2010 (SR)). The sampling was carried out by the research vessel ‘‘CRV Sagar Purvi’’ of National Institute of Ocean Technology. We acknowledge the help and support from Dr. M. Jeevanan-dam, Dr. P. Saravanan, Ms. G. Nandhini Devi, Mr. K. Anandasabari, Ms. V.P. Sathiyabama and Mr. Hariharan for completing this work.
PY - 2014/3
Y1 - 2014/3
N2 - We present multi-element concentrations in the surface sediments from the offshore of Cauvery delta of southeast India to evaluate the impact of coastal pollution on the geochemical behaviour of surface deposits. For this study, 16 surface sediment samples were collected from the offshore of Cauvery delta of southeast India and were analysed using traditional XRF for various major (SiO2, Al2O3, MgO, Fe2O3, MnO, Na2O, K2O, CaO, P2O5, TiO2) and trace elements (Rb, Sr, Ba, Y, Zr, Nb, V, Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Th, Pb) after powdering it to ASTM 230 (<63 μm). The main objectives of this study were to understand the geochemical behaviour of the coastal surface sediments and its performance and relation with the pollution indices and statistical analysis. To meet out the objective, pollution indices such as enrichment factor (EF), contamination factor (CF) and Geoaccumulation Index (I geo) were calculated and statistical analyses were performed to understand the relationship between the geochemical parameters. Both EF and I geo show the enrichment of Cu, Cr and Zr, whereas CF shows enrichment of Cu and Cr. Statistical analyses exhibit poor correlation between these elements and fine fraction indicating the insignificant role played by both grain size and organic matter. Strong positive association between Cu and Zn with CaCO3 exhibits the role of carbonates in precipitating these metals from the overlying water column possibly related to agricultural pollution. Distribution and association of other elements suggest the influence of mineralogy in geochemical composition of surface sediments. Based on this study, we suggest that environmental indices alone should not be considered for evaluating environmental conditions and a prior geogenic characterisation of the sediments is necessary.
AB - We present multi-element concentrations in the surface sediments from the offshore of Cauvery delta of southeast India to evaluate the impact of coastal pollution on the geochemical behaviour of surface deposits. For this study, 16 surface sediment samples were collected from the offshore of Cauvery delta of southeast India and were analysed using traditional XRF for various major (SiO2, Al2O3, MgO, Fe2O3, MnO, Na2O, K2O, CaO, P2O5, TiO2) and trace elements (Rb, Sr, Ba, Y, Zr, Nb, V, Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Th, Pb) after powdering it to ASTM 230 (<63 μm). The main objectives of this study were to understand the geochemical behaviour of the coastal surface sediments and its performance and relation with the pollution indices and statistical analysis. To meet out the objective, pollution indices such as enrichment factor (EF), contamination factor (CF) and Geoaccumulation Index (I geo) were calculated and statistical analyses were performed to understand the relationship between the geochemical parameters. Both EF and I geo show the enrichment of Cu, Cr and Zr, whereas CF shows enrichment of Cu and Cr. Statistical analyses exhibit poor correlation between these elements and fine fraction indicating the insignificant role played by both grain size and organic matter. Strong positive association between Cu and Zn with CaCO3 exhibits the role of carbonates in precipitating these metals from the overlying water column possibly related to agricultural pollution. Distribution and association of other elements suggest the influence of mineralogy in geochemical composition of surface sediments. Based on this study, we suggest that environmental indices alone should not be considered for evaluating environmental conditions and a prior geogenic characterisation of the sediments is necessary.
KW - Cauvery delta
KW - Coastal environment
KW - Contamination factor
KW - Geoaccumulation Index
KW - Geochemistry
KW - Marine sediments
KW - Offshore
KW - Sediment quality enrichment factor
KW - Southeast India
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84893821537&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s12665-013-2606-6
DO - 10.1007/s12665-013-2606-6
M3 - Artículo
SN - 1866-6280
VL - 71
SP - 2043
EP - 2058
JO - Environmental Earth Sciences
JF - Environmental Earth Sciences
IS - 5
ER -