Statistical assessment of heavy metal pollution in sediments of east coast of Tamilnadu using Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence Spectroscopy (EDXRF)

The study of heavy metal pollution in coastal sediments assumes importance with respect to environmental ecology in view of the rapid industrialization and increased anthropogenic activities. The concentrations of Mg, Al, K, Ca, Ti, Fe, V, Cr, Mn, Co, Ni and Zn were measured in twenty sampling sites along the east coast of Tamilnadu, India by energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (EDXRF). Natural background values were used to delineate their origin as geogenic or anthropogenic. To interpret and assess the contamination status for heavy metals in sediments, four metal pollution indices used such as an enrichment factor, a geo-accumulation index, a contamination factor and a pollution load index. Multivariate statistical methods were applied to identify the source of heavy metals. Heavy metal toxicity risk was assessed using sediment quality guidelines. The presented methodology was used to determine the anthropogenic origin of heavy metals in the sediment.