Trace elements in surface sediments of the Hooghly (Ganges) estuary: distribution and contamination risk assessment
- Authors
- Sarkar, Santosh Kumar; Mondal, Priyanka; Biswas, Jayanta Kumar; Kwon, Eilhann E.; Ok, Yong Sik; Rinklebe, Joerg
- Issue Date
- 12월-2017
- Publisher
- SPRINGER
- Keywords
- Surface sediments; Deltaic soils; Sediment quality; Pollution assessment; Sediment contamination
- Citation
- ENVIRONMENTAL GEOCHEMISTRY AND HEALTH, v.39, no.6, pp.1245 - 1258
- Indexed
- SCIE
SCOPUS
- Journal Title
- ENVIRONMENTAL GEOCHEMISTRY AND HEALTH
- Volume
- 39
- Number
- 6
- Start Page
- 1245
- End Page
- 1258
- URI
- https://scholar.korea.ac.kr/handle/2021.sw.korea/81378
- DOI
- 10.1007/s10653-017-9952-3
- ISSN
- 0269-4042
- Abstract
- Our objective was to evaluate distribution and accumulation of trace elements (TEs) in surface sediments along the Hooghly (Ganges) River Estuary, India, and to assess the potential risk with view to human health. The TE concentrations (mg kg(-1) dry weight) exhibited a wide range in the following order: Al (31.801 +/- 15.943) > Fe (23.337 +/- 7584) > Mn (461 +/- 147) > S (381 +/- 235) > Zn (54 +/- 18) > V (43 +/- 14) > Cr (39 +/- 15) > As (34 +/- 15) > Cu (27 +/- 11) > Ni (24 +/- 9) > Se (17 +/- 8) > Co (11 +/- 3) > Mo (10 +/- 2) > Hg (0.02 +/- 0.01). Clay, silt, iron, manganese and sulphur were important for the accumulation of TE in the sediments as confirmed by factor analysis and Pearson correlation. The accumulation and dispersal of TEs were most likely to be governed by both tide-induced processes and anthropogenic inputs from point and non-point sources. Enrichment factor analysis and geoaccumulation index revealed serious contamination of the sediments with Se and As, while comparing the consensus-based sediment quality guidelines (SQGs), adverse biological effects to benthic fauna might be caused by As, Cu, Ni and Cr. This investigation may serve as a model study and recommends continuous monitoring of As, Se, Cu, Ni and Cr to ascertain that SQGs with respect to acceptable levels of TEs to safeguard geochemical health and ecology in the vicinity of this estuary.
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Collections - College of Life Sciences and Biotechnology > Division of Environmental Science and Ecological Engineering > 1. Journal Articles
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