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Mercury in the sediments of Vembanad Lake, western coast of India

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Abstract

Mercury, a global pollutant, is pop** up in places where it was never expected before and it burdens in sediments and other non-biological materials. It is estimated to have increased up to five times the pre-human level due to anthropogenic activities. Vembanad backwaters, one of the largest Ramsar site in India, which have extraordinary importance for its hydrological function, are now considered as one of the mercury hot spots in India. In this study, surface sediment samples of Vembanad Lake and nearshore areas have been seasonally analysed for total mercury and methyl mercury concentrations while the core sediment samples were analysed for total mercury. The results showed that the northern part of the lake was more contaminated with mercury than the southern part. The mercury concentration was relatively high in the subsurface sediment samples, indicating the possibility of historic industrial mercury deposition. A decreasing trend in the mercury level towards the surface in the core sediment was also observed. The geochemical parameters were also analysed to understand the sediment mercury chemistry. Anoxic conditions, pH and organic carbon, sulphur and Fe determined the presence of various species of mercury in the sediments of Vembanad Lake. The prevailing physical and geochemical conditions in Vembanad Lake have indicated the chances of chemical transformation of mercury and the potential hazard if the deposited mercury fractions are remobilised.

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Acknowledgments

The financial support from the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) and UGC, Government of India through their projects to the corresponding author and first author, respectively, is gratefully acknowledged. The support by DST, Government of India and KSCSTE, Government of Kerala for setting up the mercury analytical lab is also acknowledged. Second author acknowledges the support given by CSIR, Govt. of India.

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  1. School of Environmental Sciences, Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam, Kerala, India

    Mahesh Mohan, M S Shylesh Chandran, K K Jayasooryan & E V Ramasamy

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  1. Mahesh Mohan
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Mohan, M., Shylesh Chandran, M.S., Jayasooryan, K.K. et al. Mercury in the sediments of Vembanad Lake, western coast of India. Environ Monit Assess 186, 3321–3336 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-014-3620-1

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