Distribution of plastic litter in beach sediments of Silver beach, Cuddalore, during Nivar Cyclone - A first report.

The present study was conducted to assess the distribution of plastic debris in pre- and post-cyclonic beach sediments in Silver beach, Cuddalore, southeast coast of India. The total amount of macroplastic in pre-cyclonic beach sediments was higher than that in the post-cyclonic coastal sediments (pre-cyclonic 16.1%; post-cyclonic 5.4%). The polymer varieties in pre- and post-cyclonic sediments were present in the following descending order: Pre-cyclonic sediments: polyvinyl chloride (79.06%) > polyethylene (13.9%) > nylon (6.9%); post cyclonic sediments: polypropylene (31.4%) > polyethylene (30.5%) > polystyrene (16.0) > nylon (15.5%) > polyvinyl chloride (5.1%). The different varieties of polymers with irregular shapes in the sediments are most probably introduced into the coastal environment by cyclonic floods. Wind and cyclone-induced rainfall were the driving forces for the transportation and deposition of plastic debris. The results of this study will be useful to formulate effective beach litter management policies in an attempt to develop long-term solutions.

Baseline distributions and sources of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in reef-associated sediments of Vembar group of Islands, Gulf of Mannar, India.

The study aims to investigate the source and concentration of PAH fractions in the reef sediments of the Vembar group of Islands, Gulf of Mannar, India. The concentration of PAHs ranged from 0.36 to 15.98 ng/g. The reef environment was less contaminated with low-molecular-weight PAH fractions. The accumulation of the LMW-PAH fraction was very less, whereas the HMW fraction was derived from pyrolytic sources. The level of low and high molecular weight PAHs was lower than the level of Effective Range Median (ERM) and Effective Range Low (ERL).The calculated total TEQ value ranged from ND to 10.24 ng/g in the reef sediments.

Trace element concentrations and their potential ecological risk in the reef sediments of coral islands, Vembar group of islands, Gulf of Mannar, India.

The present work was undertaken to assess the impact of trace element concentration and the status of potential ecological risk in the reef sediments of the Vembar group of islands, Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park, India. Totally, 114 reef sediments (surface) were collected from the Vembar group of islands (Nallathanni Island - 36 samples; Upputhanni Island - 48 samples; Puluvinichalli Island-30 samples). The reef sediments are enriched with sand-sized calcareous particles. The calcium carbonate percentage (CaCO3) was primarily controlled by the distribution of coral colonies and available lithogenic grains. The pollution load index (PLI) reveals that the majority of the sediments fall under the unpolluted category. Moreover, the potential ecological risk (PERI) and sediment pollution index (SPI) reveals that the Vembar group of islands fall under the low ecological risk category.

Bioavailable trace metals and their ecological risks in the tourist beaches of the Southeast coast of India.

The concentration of Acid Leachable Trace Metals (ALTMs) was assessed in urbanized tourist beaches (96 samples from Marina beach, 34 samples from Edward Elliot's beach, and 28 samples from Silver beach) of southeast coast of India. The concentration of metals accumulated in the beach sediment was less than the Upper Continental Crust (UCC) background reference values. The mean enrichment of ALTMs in the studied urban tourist beaches showed the following descending order: Marina beach - Cr > Pb > Ni > Zn > Cu > Mn > Co; Edward Elliot's beach - Cr > Pb > Ni > Mn > Co > Zn > Cu; Silver beach - Cr > Pb > Ni > Co > Mn > Cu > Zn. The ALTMs such as Fe, Mn, Co, Cu, and Zn were probably derived from natural weathering and mild anthropogenic influences whereas other metals were derived from anthropogenic induced factors.

Metal concentration and its ecological risk assessment in the beach sediments of Coromandel Coast, Southern India.

The present study investigates the concentration of acid leachable trace metals (ALTMs) and their ecological risk in the beach sediments of Coromandel Coast, Southern India. In total, thirty-six beach sediments (eighteen samples from low tide and eighteen samples from high tide) were collected from the study area. The results of the study of the ALTMs suggest that the sediments are enriched by natural processes with significant anthropogenic influences. The distribution of ALTMs in beach sediments is in the following descending order: Fe > Cr > Mn > Pb > Ni > Cu > Co > Zn. The statistical results indicate that the metal concentrations were chiefly originated from natural processes such as leaching, weathering, and fluvial action. In addition, the textural characteristics, organic matter, and calcium carbonate percentage play an important role in the distribution of metals in the beach sediments.

A baseline study on elemental concentration and potential ecological risk status of the surface sediments of Ashtamudi Lake, south west coast of India.

Element concentration (Fe, Mn, Pb, Zn, Cu, Cr, Ni and Co) in the surface sediments of Ashtamudi estuary, Southwest coast of India, has been analyzed to understand the spatial variation and potential ecological risk status. The sediment pollution index and Potential Ecological Risk index suggest that the northeastern part of the estuary exhibits low to moderate polluted sediments with moderate ecological risk. The results of correlation analysis indicate that the natural weathering process and river input play an important role in the distribution of the elements in the surface sediments of the estuary. The extracted factor results indicate that the fine sediment fractions supporting for accumulation of the trace elements, whereas the enriched level of Fe and Mn is chiefly controlled by the riverine process, and other elements are contributed by anthropogenic influences.

Elemental concentration based potential ecological risk (PER) status of the surface sediments, Pulicat lagoon, Southeast coast of India.

Eighty-three surface sediments were collected to investigate the element concentration based sediment pollution and potential ecological risk status of the Pulicat lagoon, southeast coast of India. The textural characteristics, Fe and Mn concentration in the surface sediments are chiefly controlled by the confluence of riverine inputs and vicinity of the marine environment. The varied distribution of CaCO3 concentration is due to the depth of the lagoon followed by the sand and silty sand characteristics of the substratum. The surface sediments are derived from riverine sources. Sediment Pollution Index (SPI), Potential Ecological Risk Index of the sediments suggests that they are falling under less polluted and low potential ecological risk category.

A baseline study on trace element based sediment pollution and potential ecological risk of reef sediments of Musal, Manoli and Manoli putti Islands, Gulf of Mannar, India.

The aim of the present study is to assess the baseline level of the trace element, sediment pollution and potential ecological risk of reef associated sediments of Musal, Manoli and Manoli putti Islands, Gulf of Mannar, India. The grain size distribution of the sediments is chiefly controlled by corals and broken shell debris. The distribution of lithoclastic fractions and element concentration are most probably derived from longshore sediment transport and fluvial process from nearby mainland. The enrichment of organic matter is chiefly controlled by mangrove litters and sea grasses. The concentration of lead in the marine sediments is subjected to sediment matrix, vicinity of the local pollutant sources and distance from the mainland coast. The ecological risk assessment clearly reveals that the sediments belong to the low risk category.

Elemental concentration and potential ecological risk assessment of reef associated surface sediments of Appa Island, Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve, Southeast coast of India.

Thirty three surface sediments were collected for the present study to assess the elemental concentration and its associated ecological risk in the reef associated surface sediments, Appa Island, Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve, South east coast of India. The distribution of calcium carbonate in the reef sediments is controlled by coral debris and shell fragments whereas the Organic matter (OM) content are chiefly derived from mangroves and sea grasses. The circulation of trace elements and Fe, Mn are controlled by the fluvial process and re-suspended sediments. The concentration of Pb was primarily controlled by migration of pollutants through long shore sediment transport process. The main source of Pb in the study area is from coal incinerating power plants and coal handling operations from harbors.

Sediment textural characteristics and elemental distribution in the core sediments, Pullivasal and Kurusadai Island, Gulf of Mannar, Southeast coast of India.

Two core samples were collected in order to assess the textual characteristics and elemental distribution of the sediments, from the lagoonal environment of Pullivasal and Kurusadai island, Gulf of Mannar, Southeast coast of India. The distribution of the organic matter and calcium carbonate is chiefly controlled by the coral debris, shell fragments and mangrove litters. The elemental distribution is controlled by natural process and other trace elements are controlled by anthropogenic land based activities.