Distribution and enrichment of trace metals in marine sediments of Bay of Bengal, off Ennore, south-east coast of India

Abstract

In order to avoid the pollution of trace metals in marine environment, it is necessary to establish the data and understand the mechanisms influencing the distribution of trace metals in marine environment. The concentration of heavy metals (Fe, Mn, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn, Co and Cd) were studied in sediments of Ennore shelf, to understand the metal contamination due to heavily industrialized area of Ennore, south-east coast of India. Concentration of metals shows significant variability and range from 1.7 to 3.7% for Fe, 284–460 μg g−1 for Mn, 148.6–243.2 μg g−1 for Cr, 385–657 μg g−1 for Cu, 19.8–53.4 μg g−1 for Ni, 5.8–11.8 μg g−1 for Co, 24.9–40 μg g−1 for Pb, 71.3–201 μg g−1 for Zn and 4.6–7.5 μg g−1 for Cd. For various metals the contamination factor (CF) and geoaccumulation index (I geo) has been calculated to assess the degree of pollution in sediments. The geoaccumulation index shows that Cd, Cr and Cu moderately to extremely pollute the sediments. This study shows that the major sources of metal contamination in the Ennore shelf are land-based anthropogenic ones, such as discharge of industrial wastewater, municipal sewage and run-off through the Ennore estuary. The intermetallic relationship revealed the identical behavior of metals during its transport in the marine environment.