Research Article

Toxic Metals Enrichment in the Surficial Sediments of a Eutrophic Tropical Estuary (Cochin Backwaters, Southwest Coast of India)

Table 3

Trace metals levels in different regions of the Cochin estuary (CE).

MetalEntire CE min-max, (mean)Northern CE min-max, (mean)Central CE min-max, (mean)Southern CE min-max, (mean)
MonsoonPremonsoonMonsoonPremonsoonMonsoonPremonsoonMonsoonPremonsoon

Fe (%)0.45 4.83, (3.02)0.22–4.86,
(2.80)
1.59–4.83, (3.52)1.86–4.86, (3.53)1.93–4.10, (3.54)1.44–4.69, (3.19)0.64–4.3, (2.12)0.69–3.88, (1.88)
Mn
(ppm)
370.0–1739.7, (1232.0)380.0–1946.0, (1063.6)983.0–1564.0, (1254.0)775.0–1946.0, (1216.0)1034.4–1605.4, (1280.0)844.5–1256.9, (1011.8)763.0–1739.7, (1209.0)739.9–1435.8, (986.6)
Co
(ppm)
12.0–58.4, (27.4)3.4–51.2,
(24.8)
13.2–42.3, (28.0)8.89–40.28, (28.5)16.2–32.2, (25.0)13.2–42.2, (28.0)4.3–51.2, (24.0)4.25–51.2, (22.0)
Cr
(ppm)
20.7–310.0, (131.0)7.0–379.6,
(132.8)
58.0–379.6, (188.9)58.3–379.6, (188.9)85.8–213.6, (168.9)72.0–188.8, (151.0)36.0–124.0, (65.3)36.0–124.0, (65.3)
Ni
(ppm)
8.5–103.7, (62.9)2.9–91.8,
(51.0)
33.9–103.7, (74.4)42.3–81.5, (62.3)37.0–98.3, (79.5)31.3–91.8, (68.2)11.0–90.5, (38.0)3.5–54.4, (26.4)
Cu
(ppm)
3.6–123.0, (43.0)7.2–123.5,
(43.7)
19.3–123.5, (56.7)32.2–123.5, (66.6)31.6–118.5, (61.6)16.6–95.5, (49.2)3.6–30.5, (14.3)9.07–29.29, (17.0)
Zn
(ppm)
10.0–1907.6, (422.5)14.9–2233.0,
(422.8)
132.9–1907.6, (984.9)120.7–2233.2, (1024.9)81.8–391.4, (184.6)14.54–313.3, (146.3)10.0–81.8, (49.0)19.9–76.4, (41.9)
Cd
(ppm)
0.2–34.0, (9.5)0.94–40.7,
(8.7)
0.8–34.0, (15.3)3.1–40.7, (18.2)5.5–18.5,
(10.5)
2.5–6.1,
(4.2)
0.2–4.8,
(2.1)
1.8–6.2,
(3.1)
Pb
(ppm)
6.8–73.6, (39.0)9.7–99.6,
(40.5)
20.7–73.6, (48.7)10.2–99.6, (53.8)23.8–71.6, (45.4)14.9–71.4, (41.6)6.8–58.5, (25.9)11.7–50.1, (27.9)