Toxic metal distribution in the core sediment of cochin estuarine system [CES]

ABSTRACT

This article present the result from a study of two sediment cores collected from the environmentally distinct zones of CES. Accumulation status of five toxic rnetals Cadmium [Cd], Chromium [Cr], Cobalt [Co], Copper [Cu] and Lead [Pb] were analyzed. Besides texture and CHNS were determined to understand the composition of the sediment. Enrichment Factor [EF] and Anthropogenic Factor [AF] were used to differentiate the typical metal sources. Metal enrichment in the cores revealed heavy load at the northern [NS] region compared with the southern zone [SS1] Elevation of metal content in core NS[1] showed the industrial input. Statistical analyses were employed to understand the origin of metals in the sediment samples. Principal Component Analysis [PCA] distinguishes the two zones with different metal accumulation capacity highest at NS[1] and lowest at SS[1] Correlation analysis revealed positive significant relation only in core NS adhering to the exposition of the intensified industrial pollution