Pollution characteristics of soils and sediments of thoothukudi city

Abstract

Thoothukudi city in the state of Tamil Nadu situated in southern India has drawn widespread attention in the recent past because of concerns over deteriorating environmental conditions. As a step towards addressing this issue, a scientific study of soils, and both lake and marine sediments was conducted. Concentrations of Si, Al, Fe, Ca, K, S, Ti, Mn, Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, and Pb were analysed in the collected samples. Geo-accumulation indices and enrichment factors were computed for individual samples. Pollution load indices were computed for each site, component and as a composite whole for the region. Enhanced quantities of Pb and Cu were found in soils and lake sediments. Highest geo-accumulation was evidenced for the elements S and Pb in all the components. Pollution load indices based on heavy metals indicate that each of the components and the region can be classified as unpolluted to moderately polluted.