Impacts of Heavy Metals in the Coastal Waters of Tamil Nadu

By : K.Manikandan , N. Felix , E. Prabu , Sudhan C , B. Kannan

Page No: 143-154

Abstract
Tamil Nadu, South east part of India, located between the Latitude 11.1271° N, Longitude 78.6569° E and has a coastal length of 1076 Km. In view of the fact that, the rivers act as a main drainage system for various districts of Tamil Nadu, major industrial units operated along the coastal areas release their untreated effluents into near shore coastal waters and estuaries through river waters. The heavy metals are naturally occurring elements with high atomic weight and high density; their introduction in the marine environment is on the high level due to the rapid industrialization and urbanization. Besides to the Industrial waste, city sewage and other non-biodegradable wastes significantly contribute to the contamination. The added heavy metals to the ecosystem may dissociate and take part in several biogeochemical processes includes bioaccumulation, biomagnification and were potentially toxic to the marine fishes and threat to habitat. Similarly, Mangrove soils are active absorber of these elements like Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Zn, Pb and act as a distributor of heavy metals to the adjacent waters. Various studies have focused on the surface sediments from the coastal regions are useful in assessing the marine pollution due to heavy metals. The pollution can be evaluated by contamination factor (CF) and Geo-accumulation Index. The severe health effects on humans were also attributed and reported. Speciation of heavy metals play a key role in metal toxicokinetics and toxicodynamics.The present review could be used as reference for advanced studies carried out for the tangible source of heavy metal contamination and their impact on marine ecosystem and biodiversity. In the future, continuous efforts on environmental monitoring should be carried out to assess the industrial activities and actions to prevent additional contamination of heavy metals in to the system.

Authors :
Manikandan. K and Kannan. B
Dr. M.G.R. Fisheries College and Research Institute, Ponneri - 601 204.

Felix. N and Prabu. E
Directorate of Incubation and Vocational Training in Aquaculture, Muttukadu, Chennai, India

Sudhan. C
ICAR-CIFE, Versova, Mumbai.
 

DOI: http://doi.org/10.32381/JAT.2018.33.3-4.4