8. Characterizing the Human Health Risk Along with the Bioaccumulation of Heavy Metals in the Aquatic Biota in the East Coastal Waters of the Indian Peninsula

Several trace metal contaminants accumulate in estuarine water column and sediments, sometimes reaching concentrations beyond the threshold, and impart severe ill effects to the surrounding biota. In this regard, we have discussed the state of the art of some of the most commonly studied heavy metals like As (arsenic), Cu (copper), Co (cobalt), Ni (nickel), Cd (cadmium), Cr (chromium), Zn (zinc), Pb (lead), and Fe (iron) in the transitional water mass of the estuaries along the east coast of India, in this chapter. Besides the pollution scenario, we have assessed the plausible adverse effects these pollutants are posing at present or likely to pose in the future to the coastal communities and the local biodiversity. The aquatic food chain in these estuarine and coastal waters is badly affected due to the potential of heavy metals to get bioabsorbed, bioaccumulated, and biomagnified to higher life-forms. We collated the observations on these metal levels in several marine floras like mangroves and seagrasses and faunas like gastropods, bivalves, mollusks, and fishes in this review. Overall, this chapter has assimilated all the facts published so far regarding heavy metal contamination on the east coast of India.