Mercury in the sediments of Vembanad Lake, western coast of India

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 Rams...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Environmental monitoring and assessment 2014-06, Vol.186 (6), p.3321-3336
Main Authors: Mohan, Mahesh, Shylesh Chandran, M S, Jayasooryan, K K, Ramasamy, E V
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Anoxic conditions
Anthropogenic factors
Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution
Backwaters
Carbon
Chemical contaminants
Coasts
Concentration (composition)
Contaminated sediments
Deposition
Earth and Environmental Science
Ecology
Ecotoxicology
Environment
Environmental conditions
Environmental Management
Environmental Monitoring
Environmental science
Environmental studies
Freshwater
Geochemistry
Geologic Sediments - chemistry
Hydrology
India
Lakes
Lakes - chemistry
Mercury
Mercury (metal)
Mercury - analysis
Mercury pollution
Methylmercury
Monitoring/Environmental Analysis
Organic carbon
Sediment samplers
Sediments
Statistical analysis
Sulfur
Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis
Water pollution
Wetlands
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Summary: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.
ISSN:0167-6369
1573-2959
DOI:10.1007/s10661-014-3620-1