Metal contamination in mangrove tissues, seeds, and associated sediments from the Vattanam mangrove forest of Palk Bay, southeastern India: An ecological risk assessment.

Abstract

In the present work, the concentrations of toxic heavy metals in mangrove sediments, mangrove leaves, and seeds collected from five stations in the Vattanam mangrove of Palk Bay, southeastern India, as well as the effects of the monsoon season on toxic heavy metals concentrations were determined. The concentrations were 17.5 μg/g for zinc (Zn), 9.11 μg/g for copper (Cu), and 6.03 μg/g for lead (Pb) in sediments; 10.71 μg/g (Zn) and 8.94 μg/g (Cu) in mangrove leaves; and 26.24 μg/g (Zn) and 17.01 μg/g (Cu) in mangrove seeds. At all sampling stations, the Cd concentration was below the limit of detection. These mangroves seem to have adapted successfully to their environment given their selective intake of only essential metals (Cu and Zn) and the restricted movement of non-essential metals (Cd and Pb). The concentrations of metals were below the maximum residual limits regulated by national and international standard limits.