Impact of Thane cyclone on the heavy metal distribution in water, sediment, plankton and fish (Mugil cephalus) in selected areas along the Tamil Nadu, Southeast coast of India

Abstract

Investigations on distribution of heavy metals in water, sediment, plankton and fish (Mugil cephalus) was studied in Thane cyclone affected areas (Pondicherry, Cuddalore, Nagappattinam) and un-affected area (Mimisal). Accumulation rate of heavy metals was noticed in the order of Sediment > Water > Plankton > Fish. In water, the metal distribution order was found to be high in the order of Nagapattinam > Mimisal > Cuddalore > Pondicherry. Iron as dominant metal (28.91µg/l) at Mimisal and cadmium as least recorded metal (0.75µg/l). In sediments, the order was Cuddalore > Pondicherry > Nagappattinam > Mimisal. The zinc noticed as a dominant metal with 10.79µg/g at Cuddalore and cadmium minimum (0.59µg/g) found in Pondicherry. The area wise metal distribution in plankton were Pondicherry > Nagappattinam > Cuddalore > Mimisal with cadmium minimum (0.79µg/g) recorded at Pondicherry and zinc maximum (58.54µg/g) at Cuddalore. While for fish the order of metal accumulation was Mimisal > Pondicherry > Nagappattinam > Cuddalore with a maximum accumulation (23.02µg/g) of zinc at Mimisal and minimum (0.70µg/g) of cadmium at Cuddalore.