Chemical assessment of sediment along the coastal belt of Nagapattinam, Tamil Nadu, India, after the 2004 tsunami

Abstract

Concentration levels of Cr, Ni, Zn, Pb and Cu in relation\nto those of the nutrients - total phosphates, exchangeable\nnitrates, total organic carbon, etc. have been\ninvestigated in the sediments of Nagapattinam beach\nafter the 2004 tsunami. The maximum values in the\nstudy area were 3204, 75, 71, 57 and 18.5 ug g-l for\nCr, Ni, Zn, Pb and Cu respectively; Cd was below detectable\nlevel. All the trace elements were relatively\nhigh in the near-shore sediments and the distribution\npattern of the metals in the study area was in the order:\nCr > Ni > Zn > Pb > Cu. The present study shows that\nthe tsunami has brought the clayey sediments from\nthe sea-bottom that were settled for years together in\ninland areas as well as from the offshore sediments.\nThe event has changed the chemical composition of\nthe beach sediments and is threatening fishing grounds\neven in trace concentrations