Mercury in the Sediments of Vembanad Lake, Western Coast of India

Overview

Journal Environ Monit Assess

Publisher Springer

Specialty Environmental Health

Date 2014 Jan 24

PMID 24452858

Citations 3

Authors

Mahesh Mohan

M S Shylesh Chandran

K K Jayasooryan

E V Ramasamy

Affiliations

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Abstract

Mercury, a global pollutant, is popping up in places where it was never expected before and it burdens in sediments and other non-biological materials. It is estimated to have increased up to five times the pre-human level due to anthropogenic activities. Vembanad backwaters, one of the largest Ramsar site in India, which have extraordinary importance for its hydrological function, are now considered as one of the mercury hot spots in India. In this study, surface sediment samples of Vembanad Lake and nearshore areas have been seasonally analysed for total mercury and methyl mercury concentrations while the core sediment samples were analysed for total mercury. The results showed that the northern part of the lake was more contaminated with mercury than the southern part. The mercury concentration was relatively high in the subsurface sediment samples, indicating the possibility of historic industrial mercury deposition. A decreasing trend in the mercury level towards the surface in the core sediment was also observed. The geochemical parameters were also analysed to understand the sediment mercury chemistry. Anoxic conditions, pH and organic carbon, sulphur and Fe determined the presence of various species of mercury in the sediments of Vembanad Lake. The prevailing physical and geochemical conditions in Vembanad Lake have indicated the chances of chemical transformation of mercury and the potential hazard if the deposited mercury fractions are remobilised.

Citing Articles

Risk assessment of heavy metals in Vembanad Lake sediments (south-west coast of India), based on acid-volatile sulfide (AVS)-simultaneously extracted metal (SEM) approach.

Shyleshchandran M, Mohan M, Ramasamy E Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2017; 25(8):7333-7345.

PMID: 29275481 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-017-0997-8.

Total and methyl mercury in the water, sediment, and fishes of Vembanad, a tropical backwater system in India.

Ramasamy E, Jayasooryan K, Chandran M, Mohan M Environ Monit Assess. 2017; 189(3):130.

PMID: 28243932 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-017-5845-2.

Distribution and fractionation of mercury in the soils of a unique tropical agricultural wetland ecosystem, southwest coast of India.

Navya C, Gopikrishna V, Arunbabu V, Mohan M Environ Monit Assess. 2015; 187(12):749.

PMID: 26566642 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-015-4972-x.

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