Coastal Regions Of Tamil Nadu Research Articles

Nutrient Variability Mapping and Demarcating Management Zones by Employing Fuzzy Clustering in Southern Coastal Region of Tamil Nadu, India

Nutrient Variability Mapping and Demarcating Management Zones by Employing Fuzzy Clustering in Southern Coastal Region of Tamil Nadu, India

Study on Regulatory Authority Guidelines for Fostering Affordable Housing Clusters in the Northern Coastal Region of Tamil Nadu, India

Study on Regulatory Authority Guidelines for Fostering Affordable Housing Clusters in the Northern Coastal Region of Tamil Nadu, India

Occupational Injuries and Health Status Among Rural Tribal Non-Traditional Fishing Communities in the Coastal Region of Tamil Nadu, India

ABSTRACT Objectives This study evaluated the occupational injuries and health hazards associated with fishing as an occupation among non-traditional rural tribal fishing communities in the coastal region of Tamil Nadu, India. Methods This cross-sectional study included a total of 170 individuals belonging to a fishing community, comprising both male (n = 82) and female (n = 88) participants. The demographic details including occupational history, lifestyle characteristics, socio-economic status, personal habits, and health status were assessed through the questionnaire survey. Results The fishing community has a low socioeconomic status and poor literacy, lifestyle, and personal habits. The mean age of the participants was 38.8 yrs (male 34.8; female 39.9 yrs). Only 10% reported usage of personal protective equipment (PPE), and the work duration varied from 8 to 24 hrs in a day. While male subjects reported smoking habits (12%) and alcohol consumption (23%), none of the females reported alcohol consumption and smoking habits. The major occupational injuries that occurred were due to catfish (72%) and oysters (48%). A large number of female subjects reported musculoskeletal pains. The body mass index of about 28% of fishermen was above the normal range. Abnormal blood sugar, blood pressure, and respiratory and neurological symptoms were the other major health complaints. The major environmental hazards reported were salinity, solar radiation, tides, and high wind. Conclusion Injuries from handling fish and oysters were observed to be the major occupational burden. Additonally, a high prevalence of musculoskeletal pain and chronic health illness was commonly observed among the fishers. Adequate training and awareness programs are required for effective management of occupational health hazards and health promotion.

Evaluation of the proximate composition, minerals, and heavy metals of brown seaweeds: Sargassum wightii and Sargassum thunbergii collected from the Mandapam coastal regions, Tamil Nadu

A vital renewable resource for the marine environment, seaweed naturally supplies nutrients and has several health benefits. The nutritional properties of seaweed compounds have yet to be well investigated; much research has been done on their chemical and biological makeup. Seaweeds provide an alternate supply of these essential nutrients, including protein, fibre, and necessary and non-essential trace elements. In the present study, two brown seaweeds-Sargassum wightii and Sargassum thunbergii,collected from the Mandapam coastal region of Tamil Nadu, were assessed for their proximate composition, minerals, and heavy metals.The findings on dry weight basis showed that carbohydrates (65.1–67.9%) predominated in the proximal analysis, followed by ash content (12.5–16.3%). On a dry weight basis, the critical trace elements found in seaweeds, such as copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), and iron (Fe), were between 8.14–12.41 ppm, 3.95–4.86 ppm, and 648.92-898.45 ppm, respectively. Both seaweeds have a very high calcium (Ca) concentration, ranging from (14,805.08-16,235.62) ppm. The seaweed species did not contain any measurable levels of dangerous heavy metals such as cadmium (Cd), beryllium (Be), lead (Pb), or mercury (Hg). The results demonstrated how seaweed or marine macroalgae may be helpful for essential nutrient supply.

Coastal vulnerability assessment for southeast coast of India using Coastal Hazard Wheel

Rapid urbanization coupled with climate change increases the vulnerability of coastal areas to different types of hazards. To understand and assess the vulnerability of the coastal environments, a published methodology Coastal Hazard Wheel (CHW) was adopted for the coastal taluks of Tamil Nadu. This methodology provides information on vulnerability of the coast by five major hazards. They are: Ecosystem Disruption, Gradual Inundation, Saltwater intrusion, Coastal Erosion and Flooding. The vulnerability assessment is carried out based on the datasets namely geomorphology, wave exposure, tidal range, flora/fauna, sediment balance and climate. The coastal regions of Tamil Nadu are evaluated based on the vulnerability severity levels of the hazards. The assessment depicts that 46% of the Tamil Nadu coastline is highly vulnerable to flooding, making flooding the most prevalent coastal hazard. About 10% of the coastal areas have very high vulnerability to saltwater intrusion, 43% of the coastal areas have high vulnerability to erosion, 54% of the coastal areas have high vulnerability to gradual inundation and 58% of the coastal areas are moderately vulnerable to ecosystem disruption. These appraisals are useful to support management decisions at local, regional and national level for the coastal management, mitigation and adaptation in response to climate and sea level change. Four types of ecosystems are based on their habitat type and distribution. They are marine, estuarine, coastal interface and coastal freshwater. The habitats on these ecosystems vary depending on their adaptability. These ecosystems also provide protection to coasts from the effects of climate change. They act as a basin during flooding from high rainfall and storm surges. Carbon sequestered within oceans is called blue carbon. Mangroves and salt marshes act as a reservoir of this carbon. Only 2% of the earth surface is covered by these ecosystems but stores ten times more carbon per unit area than other ecosystems. Non climatic pressure on ecosystems also increases rapidly due to rapid urbanization, industrial and agricultural outlets.

Multi-Criterion Analysis of Cyclone Risk along the Coast of Tamil Nadu, India—A Geospatial Approach

A tropical cyclone is a significant natural phenomenon that results in substantial socio-economic and environmental damage. These catastrophes impact millions of people every year, with those who live close to coastal areas being particularly affected. With a few coastal cities with large population densities, Tamil Nadu’s coast is the third-most cyclone-prone state in India. This study involves the generation of a cyclone risk map by utilizing four distinct components: hazards, exposure, vulnerability, and mitigation. The study employed a Geographical Information System (GIS) and an Analytical Hierarchical Process (AHP) technique to compute an integrated risk index considering 16 spatial variables. The study was validated by the devastating cyclone GAJA in 2018. The resulting risk assessment shows the cyclone risk is higher in zones 1 and 2 in the study area and emphasizes the variations in mitigation impact on cyclone risk in zones 4 and 5. The risk maps demonstrate that low-lying areas near the coast, comprising about 3%, are perceived as having the adaptive capacity for disaster mitigation and are at heightened risk from cyclones regarding population and assets. The present study can offer valuable guidance for enhancing natural hazard preparedness and mitigation measures in the coastal region of Tamil Nadu.

Early detection of emerging persistent perfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) along the east coast of India

Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) are resistant to breakdown and are now considered global contaminants. However, interest in these recalcitrant compounds among scientists and legislators has grown significantly in recent years. In the present study, we analyzed the level of PFOA and PFOS contamination in surface water from the coastal regions of Tamil Nadu and West Bengal. After solid phase extraction, 49 samples were analyzed by liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (LOD ≤ 1.5 ng L−1). The PFOA and PFOS present in all samples at the highest concentration were found in the Ennore coastal region (reaching a maximum of 24.8 ng L−1 and 13.9 ng L−1 in CH-6 and CH-14 respectively). Similarly, on the West Bengal coast, concentrations of PFOA ranged from <1.5 to 14.0 ng L−1 and <1.3 to 8.2 ng g−1 in water and sediment respectively. PFOS concentrations in water and sediment ranged from <1.2 to 9.0 ng L−1 and <1.2 to 7.9 ng g−1, respectively. According to the principal component analysis, the majority of the variances (65.04 %) show a positive association, which points to industrial and domestic discharges as significant point sources of these compounds. The results from this study could be used to determine and understand the levels of PFOA and PFOS contamination along the Indian Coast as well as provide baseline information for imminent monitoring investigations. The environmental occurrences of PFOA and PFOS reported in the current study would allow policymakers to take appropriate measures to safeguard coastal ecosystems or reduce the likelihood of contamination, creating a sustainable and healthy environment.

Studies on Radon and Thorn Exhalation Rates in Beach Sand along East Coastal Region of Tamil Nadu, India

Studies on Radon and Thorn Exhalation Rates in Beach Sand along East Coastal Region of Tamil Nadu, India

Validation of harvesting time in vetiver crop for enhancing root and oil yield in Tsunami affected coastal regions of Tamil Nadu

Validation of harvesting time in vetiver crop for enhancing root and oil yield in Tsunami affected coastal regions of Tamil Nadu

Exploration of Culturable Marine Streptomyces from Southern Coastal Region of India with Antibacterial Properties

The Southern coastal region is a geographically positioned area with rich source of microbial diversity, of which producing broad spectrum of bioactive compounds. The marine sediments are collected from the various sites of south east coastal region of Tamil nadu and are processed. Out of 78 isolates, the 4 strains of actinomycetes are showing broad spectrum activity against Klebsiella pneumoniae (MTCC 1687), Proteus vulgaris (MTCC 3160), Salmonella typhi (MTCC 3231), Shigella dysenteriae (MTCC 3642) and Vibrio cholerae (MTCC 3906). The bioactive isolates are proceeded for further morphological features like growth pattern and mycelial coloration, biochemical and polyphasic taxonomical characterisation were documented. Isolates are investigated for abiotic stress condition to study the growth rate of isolates. Finally, the 16S rRNA molecular identification and phylogenetic analysis of the isolates were explored. Further, bioactive isolates may be potential source for discovery of molecules with industrial applications.

Effect of irrigation management and organic manuring on the growth and physiological attributes of direct sown rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Aggressive water stress and low productivity of rice are driving the exploration for location specific feasible agronomic management practices to increase water productivity and yield potential in rice farming. Field experiments were conducted to study the rice production using modified methods of irrigation and integrated nitrogen management, at Annamalai University Experimental Farm, Tamil Nadu, India during Kuruvai(June-October) and Navarai(Jan-April) rice growing seasons of 2016 and 2017. Two irrigation regimes viz., alternate wetting and slight soil drying (when soil moisture content reaches 75% level of the field capacity) and alternate wetting and acute soil drying (when soil moisture content reaches 50% level of the field capacity) and four nutrient management practices viz., RDF as control, 50% N through legume based green leaf manuring (GLM), 50% N through non-legume based GLM and 50% N through mixture of legume and non-legume based GLM (1: 1 ratio). The results reveled that irrigation management involving alternative wetting with acute soil drying along with 50 per cent of recommended dose of nitrogen (60 kg/ha) as mixture of legume and non-legume GLM (1: 1 ratio) and remaining 50 per cent of nitrogen as inorganic source registered the higher values of plant height of 101.76 and 97.11 cm, number of tillers/m2 of 438.10 and 384.64, DMP of 11.34 and 11.39 t/ha, root volume of 22.07 and 18.39 cc, LAI of 5.32 and 4.71 and CGR of 15.26 and 14.56 mg/m2/day during Kuruvai and Navarai seasons, respectively. Therefore, this treatment combination is used for wet spot-seeded rice cultivation in coastal regions of Tamil Nadu.

Diversity of Marine Macro-Algicolous Endophytic Fungi and Cytotoxic Potential of Biscogniauxia petrensis Metabolites Against Cancer Cell Lines.

Hypersaline environments are known to support diverse fungal species from various orders. The production of secondary metabolites is one of the strategies that fungi adopt to thrive under such extreme environments, bringing up the stress tolerance response. Some such unique secondary metabolites also exhibit clinical significance. The increasing prevalence of drug resistance in cancer therapy demands further exploration of these novel bioactive compounds as cancer therapeutics. In the present study, a total of 31 endophytic fungi harboring inside red, green, and brown marine algae have been isolated and identified. The maximum likelihood analysis and diversity indices of fungal endophytes revealed the phylogenetic relationship and species richness. The genus Aspergillus was found to be the dominating fungus, followed by Cladosporium spp. All the isolated endophytic fungal extracts were tested for their cytotoxicity against HeLa and A431 cancer cell lines. Nine isolates were further analyzed for their cytotoxic activity from the culture filtrate and mycelia extract. Among these isolates, Biscogniauxia petrensis showed potential cytotoxicity with CC50 values of 18.04 and 24.85 μg/ml against HeLa and A431 cells, respectively. Furthermore, the media and solvent extraction optimization revealed the highest cytotoxic active compounds in ethyl acetate extract from the potato dextrose yeast extract broth medium. The compound-induced cell death via apoptosis was 50–60 and 45% when assayed using propidium iodide-live/dead and loss of mitochondrial membrane potential assay, respectively, in HeLa cells. Four bioactive fractions (bioassay-based) were obtained and analyzed using chromatography and spectroscopy. This study reports, for the first time, the cytotoxic activity of an endophytic fungal community that was isolated from marine macro-algae in the Rameswaram coastal region of Tamil Nadu, India. In addition, B. petrensis is a prominent apoptotic agent, which can be used in pharmaceutical applications as a therapeutic.

Epidemiology and factors associated with cutaneous myiasis in sheep and goats under coastal region of Tamil Nadu

A study on the prevalence of wound myiasis in sheep and goats was undertaken. The overall prevalence of myiasis in sheep and goats was 17.59% (67/381). The prevalence of myiasis was relatively higher in sheep (21.69%) than in goats (9.85%). The larvae recovered from wound of myiasis were identified as Chrysomya bezziana and Musca domestica . The prevalence was significantly (P<0.05) higher in females (59.70%) than in males (40.30%). Age had significant (P<0.01) influence on the prevalence of myiasis and ranged from 5.97% in hoggets to 61.19% in adults. Season-wise significantly (P<0.01) maximum prevalence was recorded during summer (52.24%) followed by winter (23.88%), northeast monsoon (13.43%) and minimum during southwest monsoon (10.45%). In goats, breed-wise prevalence was higher in Boer x non-descript (46.15%) followed by non-descript (30.77%) and Kanni (23.08%) goats. Lambing and kidding in adults and tagging in lambs/kids were most important predisposing factors for myiasis. Lesions of cutaneous myiasis were located more frequently on the head and genital organs than other parts of the body. It was concluded that wound due to ear tagging and pox lesions were the main predisposing factors for myiasis in sheep.

WITHDRAWN: Utilization of cockle shell aggregates in the production of eco-concrete

Abstract The present state of development in the field of construction is a culmination of the investigations conducted on concrete over the past 80 years. There are two major issues to be dealt within the construction industry, namely depletion of natural resources and societal problems due to pollution. Numerous investigations are carried out on concrete in order to make it eco-friendly the environment is not affected much. Aggregates are the volume fillers in concrete, which consume 70–75% of the volume. Nowadays, natural sand is completely replaced with manufactured sand (M−Sand) based on the previous literatures. Thousands of varieties of sea shell elements are available in the coastal region of Tamil Nadu. In this study, crushed and uncrushed cockle shells are used as replacement material for coarse aggregate in the preparation of M40 grade eco-concrete (0% to 30% at an interval of 5%). It is observed that the increment in cockle shells reduces the density of concrete and the compressive strength of eco-concrete shows better results at 25% replacement of uncrushed cockle shells, whereas crushed shell elements reduce the strength properties linearly by increasing the replacement percentage. It is concluded that eco-concrete produced with cockle shell elements is most preferable in the production of light weight blocks/pavers.

Assessment of wind power potential in the coastal region of Tamil Nadu, India

Tamil Nadu is among India's most developed and industrialized states. Onshore wind is the fastest-growing, with Tamil Nadu contributing 23 percent of the total wind capacity installed in India at 37,505 MW. This paper aims to present a preliminary assessment of the potential for wind power to the Tamil Nadu coastal region as estimating the wind characteristics is the first essential step in evaluating a wind energy project. Therefore, it is important to have a thorough understanding of the wind resource. To assess the wind resource, ground-based meteorological masts measurement data from seven selected sites have been used with a wind power density of more than 200 W/m2 spanning between one and two years of data at the height of between 20 m and 100 m. Data is extrapolated to 100 m (at sites where data is not available at 100 m) and derived mean wind speed, average wind density, and Weibull parameters. All seven sites reveal excellent potential with wind power density ranging from 208.64W/m2 in Muttom to 684.2 W/m2 in Kanyakumari, which is the desired electricity generation parameter for the wind turbine option. The exceptional mean wind speed & average wind power density at Dhanushkodi has also been found to be 7.60 m/s & 362.18 W/m2 at 10 m. At all sites, the diurnal patterns were consistent with the coastal regions' trends. The analyzed data is the preliminary characteristic of wind potential, which helps in the conversion of wind power and identifying the state's actual wind potential.

Status, exploitation and resource management of alginophytes in India: an account and way forward

The biodiversity of Indian seaweeds comprises ca. 865 taxa, of which the alginophytes Sargassum spp., Cystoseira spp. and Turbinaria spp. are traditionally exploited. The alginate trade in India evolved as a cottage industry in the rural coastal regions of Tamil Nadu. The resource surveys have assured sufficient feed-stock availability, but landing data between 1978 and 2019 revealed a 54.85 and 33.59% decline in biomass of Sargassum spp. and Turbinaria spp., respectively. Despite this, alginate production continues to register incremental growth from 112 t in 2004–2005 to 262 t in 2018–2019. The higher production was due to feed-stock imported for domestic processing. Self-reliance in production can only be achieved by resource management and developing a viable farming protocol. This shall support sustainable trade by reducing dependency on wild harvesting. The complete valorisation of biomass by employing a high-throughput integrated bio-refinery protocol for sequential extraction of industrial products, viz. bio-stimulant, pigments, mannitol and alginates, is pivotal for profitable enterprise. Since the domestic industry is heavily depending on artisanal seaweed gatherers of the Gulf of Mannar, it is crucial to protect their rights by resolving issues pertaining to ownership of the resource coupled with conservation and sustainable utilisation. Seemingly, there is still a lot to be done on alginophytes in India. This review provides information and data on various domains of alginate trade aimed at developing a national programme and policy.

Characterization of sedimentary environment, provenance and distribution of heavy minerals along the Tamil Nadu shoreline, East coast of India

Placer mineral deposits and their limited occurrence have gathered worldwide attention for researchers and geologists to exploit new areas of deposition. This research aims to know the transportation and depositional environment of sediments, provenance and distribution of heavy minerals between Besant Nagar and Sathurangapattinam in the coastal region of Tamil Nadu (India). The sediment samples are collected for textural analysis, magnetic susceptibility (MS), petrographical and mineralogical (XRD) studies of sediment samples, including the heavy minerals studies. Grain size analysis showed fine to medium-grained sandy sediment with very well to moderately sorting indicate reworking of beach edges accompanied by unimodal to the trimodal distribution of sediment from the riverine and marine environment. Grains are mostly symmetrically skewed with platykurtic to leptokurtic nature, indicating low- to high-energy environment prevailing in the region where the deposition and erosion are equally balanced in the area. Bivariate and one percentile–median (CM) pattern plots indicated that most of the sediment is deposited by beach processes transporting sediment by bottom suspension and rolling. The amounts of magnetic or iron-bearing minerals are high in locations no. 1 (Besant Nagar beach), 5 (Injambakkam beach) and 12 (Tiger cave beach) interpreted using MS studies, whereas the heavy mineral weight percentage is higher in locations no. 11 (Pattipulam beach) and 12 (Tiger cave beach). The correlation plot of Heavy wt% vs MS showed positive correlation and in general plots deciphered that the locations with high wt% (Besant Nagar, Injambakkam and Tiger cave beach) showed higher MS indicating the presence of magnetic minerals and the correlation plot between individual mineral grain count% vs MS explicated that the locations were rich in magnetic minerals like ilmenite, magnetite (opaques) and epidote (medium magnetic). The petrographical study of heavy mineral and XRD analysis revealed that the study area contained a high percentage of opaques, garnet, zircon, rutile, chlorite, sillimanite, hypersthene, hornblende, tourmaline, possibly derived from charnockites, granulite gneiss, migmatites and basic dykes. The overall investigation concludes that the sediments are distributed at various locations by marine processes depositing sediment rich in magnetic and heavy minerals derived from various rock type sources transported by rivers and later driven by longshore currents of oceans flowing from S to N, N to S during different months and SW–NE monsoon play a vital role in the distribution of beach placers.

Hydrochemical and statistical techniques to decode groundwater geochemical interactions and saline water intrusion along the coastal regions of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, India.

The study attempts to decipher saline water invasion and aided geochemical influences activated along the coastal zones of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. Total 76 groundwater samples representing pre- and post-monsoon seasons were collected and examined for various parameters like Ca2+, K+, Na+, Mg2+, Cl-, HCO3-, NO3- and SO42-. Multiple techniques such as hydrochemical ionic changes, hydrochemical facies evolution model and seawater mixing index were incorporated to decipher the salinization process in the study area. Hydrochemical facies suggests 38.00% of groundwater samples representing CaHCO3 facies indicating fresh groundwater, mixed Ca-Cl groundwater by 26.00% of samples and about 36.00% samples suggest Na-Cl indicating saline water. Hydrochemical facies evolution diagram differentiated groundwater facies into freshening and intrusion phase irrespective of seasons. About 23.60% and 21.00% of samples during pre- and post-monsoon suggest samples influenced by seawater intrusion. Hydrochemical ionic changes of samples signify the positive fraction of seawater in both seasons, which shows the mixing of fresh groundwater with saline water. The seawater mixing index confirms a greater percentage of samples during post-monsoon (42.00%) have been influenced by seawater with values greater than one. Principle component analysis extracted three factors with a total variance of 67.31% and 62.03% during pre- and post-monsoon seasons, respectively. Factor 1 replicates the natural processes such as saline water intrusion and ion exchange, whereas factors 2 and 3 signify anthropogenic actions such as improper sewage disposal, use of fertilizers, domestic and industrial waste discharge influencing groundwater chemistry.

Survey of the ethnomedicinal use of marine halophytes among the indigenes of coastal regions of Tamil Nadu, India

Survey of the ethnomedicinal use of marine halophytes among the indigenes of coastal regions of Tamil Nadu, India

Suitability study on elephant foot yam varieties under coconut gardens of east coast region of Tamil Nadu

An experiment on identification of suitable elephant foot yam varieties as intercrop for coconut gardens of east coastal region of Tamil Nadu was conducted at ICAR KVK, Thiruvarur during 2013 to 2015. Three varieties viz., Gajendra, Sree Padma and local check were tested in five locations of this region with seven replications as per Randomized block design (RBD). Observations on growth and yield attributes were recorded and crop economics were calculated and analysed statistically. The results revealed that, maximum plant height (72.10 cm), pseudo stem girth (13.10 cm), canopy spread E-W(81.30 cm), canopy spread N-S(83.20 cm), petiole length (55.60 cm), number of branches (5.30), number of leaflets (302.50) and Leaf Area Index (3.20) were recorded in the variety Gajendra followed by Sree Padma. The least vales for the parameters studied were recorded by the local check variety. The variety Gajendra took 56.00 days only for the 50 per cent emergence of the crop stand against 62.00 and 93.00 days respectively in Sree Padma and local check variety. The yield attributes viz., tuber yield (28.90 t/ha), corm diameter (15.30 cm), corm fresh weight (1340.80g), volume of tuber (2156.00 cm3), corm dry weight (339.60 g), dry matter per cent (25.33%) and Starchcontent (17.90%) were higher in the variety Gajendra. The net returns to the farmers also found higher in the variety Gajendra. As a conclusion of the study, elephant foot yam variety Gajendrais the most suitable intercrop in the coconut gardens of East coastal regions of Tamil Nadu.