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Assessment of metal enrichments in tsunamigenic sediments of Pichavaram mangroves, southeast coast of India

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Abstract

The 26 December 2004-Tsunami has deposited sediments in the Pichavaram mangrove ecosystem, east coast of India. Ten surface and three core sediment samples were collected within thirty days of the event. High concentrations of Cd, Cu, Cr, Pb, and Ni were observed in the tsunamigenic sediments. With respect to Fe, Zn, and Mn, there was little variation as compared to pre-tsunami values. The geo-accumulation index was calculated in order to assess the contamination of heavy metals in the sediments. The sediments were extremely contaminated with respect to Cd and they showed moderate to strong contamination with respect to Cr, Pb and Ni. The study highlighted the future risk of enhanced metal pollution in near future in this mangrove ecosystem.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Biogeochemistry Laboratory, School of Environmental Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, 110067, India

    Rajesh Kumar Ranjan, Al. Ramanathan & Gurmeet Singh

  2. Department of Biology, Ecosystem Management Research Group, University of Antwerp “Campus Drie Eiken”, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610, Antwerpen (Wilrijk), Belgium

    Gurmeet Singh

  3. Department of Earth Sciences, Annamalai University, Tamil Nadu, India

    S. Chidambaram

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  1. Rajesh Kumar Ranjan
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Correspondence to Gurmeet Singh.

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Ranjan, R.K., Ramanathan, A., Singh, G. et al. Assessment of metal enrichments in tsunamigenic sediments of Pichavaram mangroves, southeast coast of India. Environ Monit Assess 147, 389–411 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-007-0128-y

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