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Wetland Science pp 163–186Cite as

Distribution of Trace Metals in the Sediments of Estuarine-Mangrove Complex across the Indian Coast

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Abstract

The present chapter reviews the current knowledge on trace metal distribution and their enrichment and ecotoxicity potential in sediments in Indian estuarine-mangrove complexes. Available literature suggests that the metals like Cd and Fe show very high contamination, whereas Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn indicate moderate contamination in Indian mangroves [based on the pollution indices contamination factor (CF), pollution load index (PLI), enrichment factor (EF), geo-accumulation index (I-geo), potential ecological risk index (Eif) and potential toxicity response index (RI)]. The tsunamigenic sediments of Pichavaram mangroves of Southern India indicate very high enrichment of the metals. Low values for Al and As for all indices suggest low degree of risk with respect to these metals across the Indian estuarine mangroves. Cd shows higher enrichment in almost all estuarine-mangrove complexes in India except those at Muthupet and Sundarbans. Of all Indian mangroves, high risk is seen in the case of Pichavaram, Coringa-Gaderu, Manakudy estuary mangrove and Vellar estuary mangrove, while for Sundarbans, Muthupet and Goa, the risk is low. In the light of this, there is a need for effective management strategy for most of the Indian mangrove ecosystems.

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Authors and Affiliations

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

    Prabhat Ranjan, Namrata Priya & AL. Ramanathan

  2. Department of Environmental Science, Central University of Rajasthan, Kishangarh, Ajmer, Rajasthan, India

    Alok Kumar

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  1. Prabhat Ranjan
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  2. Namrata Priya
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  3. Alok Kumar
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  4. AL. Ramanathan
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Correspondence to AL. Ramanathan .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Environmental Impact Assessment Division, Gujarat Institute of Desert Ecology, Bhuj, Gujarat, India

    B. Anjan Kumar Prusty

  2. Terrestrial Ecology Division, Gujarat Institute of Desert Ecology, Bhuj, Gujarat, India

    Rachna Chandra

  3. Sálim Ali Center for Ornithology and Natural History, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India

    P. A. Azeez

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Ranjan, P., Priya, N., Kumar, A., Ramanathan, A. (2017). Distribution of Trace Metals in the Sediments of Estuarine-Mangrove Complex across the Indian Coast. In: Prusty, B., Chandra, R., Azeez, P. (eds) Wetland Science . Springer, New Delhi. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-81-322-3715-0_9

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