Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Accumulation of total trace metals due to rapid urbanization in microtidal zone of Pallikaranai marsh, South of Chennai, India

  • Published:
Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The article presents the results for enrichment of total trace metals (TTMs) from Pallikaranai salt marsh in South Chennai, a metropolis on the southeast coast of India. TTMs Fe, Mn, Cr, Cu, Ni, Co, Pb, Zn, Cd, Sr, V, and Hg along with sediment texture, OC, and CaCO3 were analyzed in 36 surface sediments collected during August 2008 to recognize and observe the input of TTMs in the marsh from various sources in the city limits. In view of the rapid urbanization and industrialization in Chennai City, especially on the southern side, uncontrolled input of sewage, garbage, and industrial effluents into the Pallikaranai marsh land, the elevated concentrations are not surprising. The level of enrichment of TTMs has also increased by 20% to 60% for most of the elements when compared with all other ecosystems in the world as well as the nearby area. The results also indicate that the marshy region is more heavily contaminated with Cd, Hg, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn than other regions on the southeast coast of India. The Enrichment Factor, Contamination Factor, and I geo indexes are calculated, and these values are useful to assess the degree of pollution in sediments. The spatial distributions of TTMs are also controlled by other factors like geochemical, precipitation, and flocculation of particulate substances in the marsh. The results of the present study suggest the need for a regular monitoring and management program which will help to improve the quality of Pallikaranai pristine marsh land.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Accornero, A., Gnerre, R., & Manfra, L. (2008). Sediment concentrations of trace metals in the Berre Lagoon (France): An assessment of contamination. Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, 54, 372–385.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Acevedo-Figueroa, D., Jiménez, B. D., & Rodríguez-Sierra, C. J. (2006). Trace metals in sediments of two estuarine lagoons from Puerto Rico. Environmental Pollution, 141, 336–342.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Alloway, B. J. (1990). Heavy metals in soils. London: Blackie.

    Google Scholar 

  • Aurangabadkar, K., Swaminathan, S., Sandya, S., & Uma, T. S. (2001). Impact of Municipal Solid waste dumpsite on ground water quality at Chennai. Environmental Pollution & Control, 5, 41–44.

    Google Scholar 

  • Balachandran, K. K., Laluraj, C. M., Nair, M., Joseph, T., Sheeba, P., & Venugopal, P. (2005). Heavy metal accumulation in a flow restricted, tropical estuary. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 65, 361–370.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bloundi, M. K., Duplay, J., & Quaranta, G. (2009). Heavy metal contamination of coastal lagoon sediments by anthropogenic activities: The case of Nador (East Morocco). Environmental Geology, 56, 833–843.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bowen, H. J. M. (1979). Environmental chemistry of the elements. New York: Elsevier.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bryan, G. W., & Langston, W. J. (1992). Bioavailability, accumulation and effects of heavy metals in sediments with special reference to United Kingdom estuaries: A review. Environmental Pollution, 76, 89–131.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Buccolieri, A., Buccolieri, G., Cardellicchio, N., Dellatti, A., Dilee, A., & Maci, A. (2006). Heavy metals in marine sediments of Taranto Gulf, Ionian Sea, southern Italy. Marine Chemistry, 99, 227–235.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Calvert, S. E., & Price, N. B. (1983). Geochemistry of nambian shelf sediments. In E. Suess, & J. Thiede (Eds.), Coastal upwelling and its sediment record (pp. 337–375). New York: Plenum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen, C. W., Kao, C. M., Chen, C. F., & Dong, C. D. (2007). Distribution and accumulation of heavy metals in sediments of Kaoshiung Harbor, Taiwan. Chemosphere, 66, 1431–1440.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chen, C. T. A., Wann, J. K., & Lou, J. Y. (2001). Aeolian flux of metals in Taiwan in the past 2600 years. Chemosphere, 43, 287–294.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cuong, D. T., & Obbard, J. P. (2006). Metal speciation in coastal marine sediments from Singapore using a modified BCR-sequential extraction procedure. Applied Geochemistry, 21(8), 1335–1346.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Drake, D. E., & Cacchione, D. A. (1985). Seasonal variation in sediment transport on the Russian River shelf, California. Continental Shelf Research, 4, 495–514.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ergin, M., & Yoruk, R. (1990). Distribution and texture of bottom sediments in semi-enclosed coastal inlet, the Izmit Bay from the eastern sea of Marmara (Turkey). Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 30, 647–654.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Esakku, S., Palanivelu, K., & Kurian, J. (2003). Assessment of heavy metals in a municipal solid waste dumpsite. In Workshop proceedings on sustainable landfill management, 3–5 December, 2003, Chennai, India, pp. 139–145.

  • Fakayode, S. O., & Olu-Owolabi, B. I. (2003). Heavy metal contamination of roadside topsoil in Osogbo, Nigeria: Its relationship to traffic density and proximity to highways. Environmental Geology, 44, 150–157.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fernex, F., Span, D., Flatau, G., & Renard, D. (1986). Behavior of some metals in surficial sediments of the northwest Mediterranean continental shelf. In: P. G. Sly (Ed.), Sediments and water interactions (pp. 353–370). New York: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Forstner, U., & Wittmann, G. T. W. (1981). Metal pollution in the aquatic environment (pp. 476). Berlin: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Francois, R. (1988). A study on the regulation of the concentrations of some trace metals (Rb, Sr, Zn, Pb, Cu, V, Cr, Ni, Mn and Mo) in Saanich inlet sediments, British Columbia. Marine Geology, 83, 285–308.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gaudette, H. E., Flight, W. R., Toner, L., & Folger, D. W. (1974). An inexpensive titration method for the determination of organic carbon in recent sediments. Journal of Sedimentary Petrology, 44, 249–253.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Glasby, G. P., Szefer, P., Gełdon, J., & Warzocha, J. (2004). Heavy-metal pollution of sediments from Szczecin Lagoon and the Gdansk Basin, Poland. Science of the Total Environment, 330, 249–269.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gonzalez-Macias, C., Schifter, I., Liuch-Cota, D. B., Mendez-Rodriguez, L., & Hernandez-Vazquez, S. (2006). Distribution, enrichment and accumulation of heavy metals in coastal sediments of Salina Cruz Bay, Mexico. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 118, 211–230.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Guzman, H. M., & Garcia, E. M. (2002). Mercury levels in coral reefs along the Caribbean coast of Central America. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 44, 1415–1420.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Harbison, P. (1984). Regional variation in the distribution of trace metals in modern intertidal sediments of Northern Spencer Gulf, South Australia. Marine Geology, 61, 221–247.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hussain, S. M., Ganesan, P., Ravi, G., Mohan, S. P., & Sridhar, S. G. D. (2007). Distribution of Ostracoda in marine and marginal marine habitat off Tamilnadu and adjoining areas, south east coast of India and Andaman Islands: Environmental implications. Indian Journal of Marine Sciences, 36(4), 369–377.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ingram, R. L. (1970). Procedures in sedimentary petrology (pp. 49–67). New York: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ip, C. C. M., Li, X. D., Zhang, G., Wai, O. W. H., & Li, Y. S. (2007). Trace metal distribution in sediments of the Pearl River Estuary and the surrounding coastal areas, South China. Environmental Pollution, 147, 311–323.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jayaprakash, M., Jonathan, M. P., Srinivasalu, S., Muthuraj, S., Ram-Mohan, V., & Rajeshwara-Rao, N. (2008). Acid-leachable trace metals in sediments from an industrialized region (Ennore Creek) of Chennai city, SE coast of India: An approach towards regular monitoring. Estuarine, Coastal, and Shelf Science, 76, 692–703.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jayshree, V. (2007). Protecting wetlands. Current Science, 93(3), 288–290.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jonathan, M. P., Jayaprakash, M., Srinivasalu, S., Roy, P. D., Thangadurai, N., Muthuraj, S., et al. (2009). Evaluation of acid leachable trace metals in soils around a five centuries old mining district in Hidalgo, Central Mexico. Water Air and Soil Pollution. doi:10.1007/s11270-009-0068-y.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jonathan, M. P., RamMohan, V., & Srinivasalu, S. (2004). Geochemical variations of major and trace elements in recent sediments, off the Gulf of Mannar, the southeast coast of India. Environmental Geology, 45, 466–480.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kelm, U., Helle, S., Matthies, R., & Morales, A. (2009). Distribution of trace elements in soils surrounding the El Teniente porphyry copper deposit, Chile: The influence of smelter emissions and a tailings deposit. Environmental Geology, 57, 365–376. doi:10.1007/s00254-008-1305-1.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Krauskopf, K. B. (1985). Introduction to geochemistry. McGraw-Hill.

  • Krishna, A. K., & Govil, P. K. (2005). Heavy metal distribution and contamination in soils of Thane–Belapur industrial development area, Mumbai, Western India. Environmental Geology, 47, 1054–1061.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Krishna, A. K., & Govil, P. K. (2008). Assessment of heavy metal contamination in soils around Manali industrial area, Chennai, southern India. Environmental Geology, 54, 1465–1472.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lau, S. S. S., & Chu, L. M. (1999). Contaminant release from sediments in a coastal wetland. Water Research, 33, 909–918.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Léopold, E. N., Jung, M. C., Auguste, O., Ngatcha, N., Georges, E., & Lape, M. (2008). Metals pollution in freshly deposited sediments from River Mingoa, main tributary to the Municipal lake of Yaounde. Cameroon Geosciences Journal, 12, 337–347.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li, X., Wai, O. W. H., Li, Y. S., Coles, B. J., Ramsey, M. H., & Thornton, I. (2000). Heavy metal distribution in sediment profiles of the Pearl River estuary, South China. Applied Geochemistry, 15, 567–581.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Loring, D. H., & Rantala, R. T. T. (1992). Manual for the geochemical analyses of marine sediments and suspended particulate matter. Earth Science Reviews, 32, 35–283.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Loska, K., Wiechula, D., & Korus, I. (2004). Metal contamination of farming soil affected by industry. Environment International, 30(2), 159–165.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Martin, J. M., & Whitfield, M. (1983). The significance of the river input of chemical elements to the ocean. In I. C. S. Wong, E. Boyle, K. W. Bruland, J. D. Burton, & E. D. Goldberg (Eds.), Trace metals in sea water (pp. 265–296). New York: Plenum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Müller, G. (1969). Index of geoaccumulation in the sediments of the Rhine River. Geojournal, 2, 108–118.

    Google Scholar 

  • Müller, G. (1979). Schwermetalle in den sedimenten des Rheins-Veranderungen seitt 1971. Umschan, 79, 778–783.

    Google Scholar 

  • Müller, G. (1981). Die Schwemetallbelastung der sediments des Nekkars und seiner Nebenflusse: Eine Bestandsanfnahme. Chemical Zeitung, 105, 157–164.

    Google Scholar 

  • Muniz, P., Danulat, E., Yannicelli, B., Garcia-Alonso, J., Medina, G., & Bicego, M. C. (2004). Assessment of contamination by heavy metals and petroleum hydrocarbons in sediments of Montevideo Harbour (Uruguay). Environment International, 29, 1019–1028.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Muthu Raj, S., & Jayaprakash, M. (2008). Distribution and enrichment of trace metals in marine sediments of Bay of Bengal, off Ennore, south-east coast of India. Environmental Geology, 56, 207–217.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Parsons, T. R., Perry, R. I., Nutbrown, E. D., Hsieh, W., & Lalli, C. M. (1983). Frontal zone analysis at the mouth of Sannich inlet, British Columbia, Canada. Marine Biology, 73, 1–5.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pekey, H. (2006). The distribution and sources of heavy metals in Izmit Bay surface sediments affected by a polluted stream. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 52, 1197–1208.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pekey, H., Karakas, D., Ayberk, S., Tolun, L., & Bakoglu, M. (2004). Ecological risk assessment using trace elements from surface sediments of I’zmit Bay (Northeastern Marmara Sea) Turkey. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 48, 946–953.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Praysers, P. A., De Lange, G. J., & Middleburh, J. J. (1991). Geochemistry of eastern Medditerranean sediments: Primary sediment composition diagenetic alterations. Marine Geology, 100, 137–154.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pye, K., Coleman, M. L., & Duan, W. M. (1997). Microbial activity and diagenesis in salt marsh sediments, North Norfolk, England. In T. Jickells, & J. E. Rae (Eds.), Biogeochemistry of intertidal sediments (pp. 119–151). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Rajamanickam, G. V., & Setty, M. G. A. P. (1973). Distribution of phosphorus and organic carbon in the nearshore Sediments of Goa. Indian Journal of Marine Sciences, 2, 84–89.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ray, A. K., Tripathy, S. C., Patra, S., & Sarma, V. V. (2006). Assessment of Godavari estuarine mangrove ecosystem through tracemetal studies. Environment International, 32, 219–223.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Riley, J. P., & Chester, R. (1971). Introduction to marine chemistry (pp. 465). London: Academic.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rubio, B., Nombela, M. A., & Vilas, F. (2000). Geochemistry of major trace elements in sediments of the Ria de vigo (NW Spain) an assessment of metal pollution. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 40, 968–980.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Salomons, W., & Forstner, U. (1980). Trace metal analysis on polluted sediments, part II. Evaluation of environmental impact. Environmental Technology Letters, 1, 506–517.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Salomons, W., & Forstner, U. (1984). Metals in hydrocycle (pp. 63–98). Berlin: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Santos, I. R., Silva-Filho, E. V., Schaefer, C. E., Albuquerque-Filho, M. R., & Campos, L. S. (2005). Heavy metal contamination in coastal sediments and soil near the Brazilian Antartic Station, King George Island. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 50, 185–194.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Savvides, C., Papadopoulos, A., Haralambous, K. J., & Loizidou, M. (1995). Sea sediments contaminated with heavy metals: Metal speciation and removal. Water Science and Technology, 32(9–10), 65–73.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sebastian, S., George, R., & Damodaran, K. T. (1990). Studies on the distribution of organic matter and carbonate content of sediments in Malle Estuary, northern Kerala. Journal of the Geological Society of India, 36, 634–643.

    Google Scholar 

  • Seralathan, P., Meenakshikutty, N. R., Asaref, K. V., & Padmalal, D. (1993). Sediment and organic carbon distribution in the Cochin harbour area. Indian Journal of Marine Sciences, 22, 252–255.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Stumm, W., & Morgan, J. J. (1996). Aquatic chemistry: Chemical equilibria and rates in natural waters (3rd Ed.). New York: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sutherland, R. A. (2003). Lead in grain size fractions of road deposited sediment. Environmental Pollution, 121, 229–237.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Szefer, P., Glasby, G. P., Kusak, A., Szefer, K., Jankowska, H., Wolowicz, M., et al. (1998). Evaluation of anthropogenic flux of metallic pollutants into Puck Bay, southern Baltic. Applied Geochemistry, 13, 293–304.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Takematsu, N., Sato, Y., & Okabe, S. (1984). The formation of todorokite and birnessite in seawater pumped from underground. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 48(5), 1099–1106.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Taylor, S. R., & McLennan, S. M. (1995). The geochemical evolution of the continental crust. Reviews of Geophysics, 33, 241–265.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tessier, A., Buffle, J., & Campbell, P. G. C. (1994). Uptake of trace metals by aquatic organisms. In J. Buffle, & R. R. De Vitre (Eds.), Chemical and biological regulation of aquatic systems (pp. 197–230). Boca Raton: Lewis.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tessier, A., Campbell, P. G. C., & Bisson, M. (1979). Sequential extraction procedure for the speciation of particulate trace metals. Analytical Chemistry, 51, 844–851.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tessier, A., Fortin, D., Belzile, N., DeVitre, R. R., & Leppard, G. G. (1996). Metal sorption to diagenetic iron and manganese oxyhydroxides and associated organic matter: Narrowing the gap between field and laboratory measurements. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 60(3), 387–404.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Trefethen, J. M. (1950). Classification of sediments. American Journal of Science, 248, 55–62.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Turekian, K. K., & Wedepohl, K. H. (1961). Distribution of the elements in some major units of the Earth’s crust. Bulletin of Geological Society of America, 72, 175–192.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Turer, D., Maynard, J. B., & Sansalone, J. J. (2001). Heavy metal contamination in soils of urban highways: Comparison between runoff and soil concentrations at Cincinnati, Ohio. Water, Air, and Soil Pollution, 132, 293–314.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Turner, A. (2000). Trace metal concentration in sediments from U.K. Estuaries: An empirical evaluation of the role of hydrous iron and manganese oxides. Estuarine, Coastal, and Shelf Science, 50, 355–371.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang, X. S., Qin, Y., & Sang, S. X. (2005). Accumulation and source of heavy metals in urban top soils: A case study from the city of Xuzhou China. Environmental Geology, 48, 101–107.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wedepohl, K. H. (1974). Copper: Abundance in common sediments and sedimentary rocks. In K. H. Wedepohl (Ed.), Handbook of geochemistry (pp. 29/K/1–29/K/10). New York: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wedepohl, K. H. (1995). The composition of the continental crust. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 59, 1217–1232.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zwolsman, J. J. G., Van Eck, G. T. M., & Burger, G. (1996). Spatial and temporal distribution of trace metals in sediments from the Scheldt Estuary, southwest Netherlands. Estuarine, Coastal, and Shelf Science, 43, 55–79.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Author notes

  1. M. Jayaprakash

    Present address: Faculty III, Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Leuphana University of Lüneburg, Herbert-Meyer-Str. 7, 29556, Suderburg, Germany

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Applied Geology, School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Madras, Guindy Campus, Chennai, 600 025, India

    M. Jayaprakash & P. M. Velmurugan

  2. Faculty III, Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Leuphana University of Lüneburg, Herbert-Meyer-Str. 7, 29556, Suderburg, Germany

    B. Urban

  3. Department of Geology, Anna University, Chennai, 600 025, India

    S. Srinivasalu

Authors
  1. M. Jayaprakash
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. B. Urban
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. P. M. Velmurugan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. S. Srinivasalu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to M. Jayaprakash.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Jayaprakash, M., Urban, B., Velmurugan, P.M. et al. Accumulation of total trace metals due to rapid urbanization in microtidal zone of Pallikaranai marsh, South of Chennai, India. Environ Monit Assess 170, 609–629 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-009-1261-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-009-1261-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation