Identification of heavy metals contamination by multivariate statistical analysis methods in Pondicherry mangroves, India

Abstract

Pondicherry mangroves received a heavy influx of sewage, industrial effluents; domestic and agricultural waste which consists of varying hazardous chemical and causing deleterious effects on fish and other aquatic organisms. Surface water and sediments (0-5 cm) were collected in two locations from the Pondicherry mangroves, India. Fractionation of the metals in Zn, Cu, Fe, Mn, Cd & Hg was investigated. Cluster analysis, principal componenent analysis and multidimensional scale plot were employed to evaluate tropic status of pollution for monitoring the present study stations. This study confirmed that source of water and sediment heavy metals concentration followed the hierarchy; Fe>Zn>Mn>Cu>Cd>Hg in estuary. An important observation is that, in general lowest heavy metal concentrations are found during summer, compared Post, pre and monsoon. Enrichment factor values of station 2; sediments reveal unpolluted nature and the positive correlation among Fe, Mn and other heavy metals indicate the influence of early diagnostic process.

Keywords: correlation, estuary, heavy metal, Pondicherry, sediment, water