Incidence of heavy metals in the mangrove flora and sediments in Kerala, India |
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Authors: | George Thomas Tresa V Fernandez |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Aquatic Biology & Fisheries, University of Kerala, Trivandrum, 695007, India |
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Abstract: | The mangroves of Kerala on the south-west coast of India are fast disappearing due to land reclamation and other anthropogenic
disturbances. There are very few ecosystem level studies made in these much threatened biotopes in Kerala. The present study
involves the measurement of heavy metals in the mangrove flora and sediments of three mangrove habitats along the Kerala coast.
Sampling was carried out for a period of one year at bi-monthly intervals, with concentrations of Fe, Mn, Cu,Zn,Pb and Co
analysed using atomic absorption spectrophotometry. An appreciable variation was observed in metal concentrations indifferent
mangrove species. Cu, Zn and Pb were found to be in higher concentrations in Avicennia officinalis whereas higher levels of
Fe, Mn and Co were observed in the species Barringtonia racemosa. The analysis of heavy metals indicated a high level of metal
pollutants such as Fe, Cu, Zn and Pb in the mangrove habitats of Quilon and Veli compared to the relatively uncontaminated
areas of Kumarakom.
This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date. |
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Keywords: | Heavy metals mangrove flora sediments Keralacoast |
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