Chandramohan J, Chandrasekaran A, Senthilkumar G, Elango G and Ravisankar R
Selected heavy metals (Mg, Al, K, Ca, Ti, Fe, V, Cr, Mn, Co, Ni, Zn, As, Cd, Ba, La and Pb) in the coastal sediment samples from the Pattipulam to Dhevanampattinam along the East Coast of Tamil Nadu, India has been determined to assess the contamination and metal enrichment status. The metal concentration were analysed in sediment samples using Energy dispersive X-ray flurascence technique. The mean concentration found to be : 1665 mg kg-1 for Mg; 21719 mg kg-1 for Al; 8405 mg kg-1 for K; 9284 mg kg-1 for Ca; 1520 mg kg-1 for Ti; 6554 mg kg-1 for Fe; 35.3 mg kg-1 for V; 30.1 mg kg-1 for Cr; 130.4 mg kg-1 for Mn; 2.4 mg kg-1 for Co; 20.2 mg kg-1 for Ni; 62.2 mg kg-1 for Zn, 6.2 mg kg-1 for As, 3.4 mg kg-1 for Cd; 404.9 mg kg-1 for Ba; 15.1 mg kg-1 for La; 12.1 mg kg-1 for Pb; The determined mean metal concentration is in the order of Al > Ca > K > Fe > Mg > Ti > Ba > Mn > Zn > V > Cr > Ni > La > Pb > As > Cd > Co. A mean concentrations of heavy metals found in sediments are significantly lower than those from the background values. The heavy metals pollution assessments of sediments are determined by using pollution indices like contamination factor (CF), pollution load index (PLI) and potential contamination index (Cp). The sequence of the contamination factors of studied metals is Cd > Ba > Zn > Pb > As > Ca > Ti > Cr > K > Ni > Al > V > La > Mn > Fe > Co > Mg. This study reflects these pollution indices are sufficient to assess the pollution status of sediments.
