Arc GIS Based Interpretation of Surface Sediment Heavy Metals Near Coastal Area of District Badin, Sindh, Pakistan

Abstract

The present study investigates heavy metal contamination of sediments of the surface drains, lakes and lagoons of coastal district Badin. The accumulation of industrial, municipal waste water, pumped saline water and agricultural runoff through left bank outfall drain (LBOD) and other linking drains in the coastal lines of Badin, Sindh, Pakistan, have disturbed the environmental ecology of the area. The heavy metal characteristics of sediments were analyzed, i.e. ionic and molecular species of Hg,Ni, Fe, Cd, Pb, Cr, Co, Cu, Mn, and Zn. Arc GIS application was used for mapping of the studied area. The obtained results were represented by GIS based maps, with graduated colored circles. A total of 31 sediment samples were taken from drains, lakes and lagoons of coastal areas. The average results, analyzed for heavy metals, were found as Hg(mg/kg) 0.2032 ±0.173, Ni (mg/kg)1.455 ±1.449,Cd (Not Detected), Zn(mg/kg)2.789 ± 0.865, Cu(mg/kg)0.3050 ±0.3355, Fe(mg/kg)71.175±1.610, Mn (mg/kg)7.375±1.848, Co (mg/kg) 0.0548 ±0.0634,Pb(mg/kg)0.216 ± .114,Cr(mg/kg)0.7054 ±0.6949.The obtained results indicated that pollution of heavy metal concentration in surface sediments of lakes , lagoons, and drains near coastal lines of Badin Sindh, posed a serious question . The main contaminating sources in the area are LBOD and other link drains, carrier of industrial effluents of different districts. Poor infrastructure of LBOD facilitates backward flow of contaminated sea tidal water towards coastal saline lakes, also adds in sediment pollution.