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Bioavailability and risk assessment of trace metals in sediments of a high-altitude eutrophic lake, Ooty, Tamil Nadu, India

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Abstract

Ooty lake, in the southern part of India, has raised huge concern about the role of metals in a lake due to increasing anthropogenic activities. Present study is aimed at understanding fate of trace metals in a lake’s sediment. Sixteen sediment samples collected from bottom of the lake at various locations during March 2017 were analysed for trace metals cobalt, chromium, copper, iron, lead, manganese, nickel and zinc. Fe and Mn dominate total metal concentration followed by Ni and Cr. A high concentration of Cr, Cu, Ni and Zn in residual fraction indicates weathering as the source for these metals. A significant concentration of metals in exchangeable, reducible and oxidisable fraction indicates adsorbtion/chelation of these metals with oxides and organic matter due to change in oxic state. Geo-accumulation index for metals show unpolluted to moderate nature of sediments at all sampling locations. Moderate to significant enrichment factor of Cr, Ni and Zn indicates influence of anthropogenic sources. Co, Pb and Zn show a high amount of bioavailability for aquatic life. Other metals (Cr, Ni, Fe and Mn) show scarce to moderate bioavailability. On the other hand, a global contamination factor denotes moderate to high metal contamination of sediments in the entire lake. Statistical analysis of metals shows good inter-element correlation among metals Fe, Cr, Ni, Co, Cu and Zn indicating natural source. Influence of domestic sewage and recreational activities as the main/additional source is revealed by negative loading of Pb and Zn in principal component analysis. The present study, in essence, has identified rock weathering, as a major source of trace meals in the sediments of Ooty lake entering through stream and surface runoff from an adjacent forest area. The study has also identified high bioavailability of Pb and Zn, which is derived through the recreational activities (boating) causing permanent adverse impact.

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Acknowledgements

Purushothaman thanks Ooty Lake Development Authority, Tamil Nadu Tourism and Development Corporation, for permitting and supporting during sampling. He also acknowledges Prof. Jayakumar, Professor, Dept. of Applied Geology, Madras University, Chennai, for trace metal analysis using AAS.

Funding

Purushothaman Parthasarathy received funding for the study from Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), Govt. of India, for the project entitled “Assessment of Eutrophication of Ooty Lake Tamil Nadu—using Sediment and Water Chemistry” (SR/FTP/ES-96/2013). Purushothaman acknowledges SERB for funding the study. Sujit Kumar Swain acknowledges SERB for funding in the form of fellowship.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering and Technology, Faculty of Engineering and Technology, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, SRM Nagar, Kattankulathur- 603203, Chennai, TN, India

    Purushothaman Parthasarathy

  2. Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Saveetha School of Engineering, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Chennai, 602105, India

    Manju Asok

  3. Department of Environmental Science, Central University of Bihar, Gaya, 824236, India

    Rajesh Kumar Ranjan

  4. Department of Civil Engineering, Saveetha School of Engineering, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Chennai, 602105, India

    Sujit Kumar Swain

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  1. Purushothaman Parthasarathy
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Contributions

Purushothaman Parthasarathy (PP) designed the study and conceived the original idea for the manuscript. PP was in charge of collection of data and processing and analysis of sediment samples. He is also in charge of writing the main manuscript including figures and tables. Manju Asok performed statistical analysis and helped in the interpretation and writing of a statistical portion of the manuscript. Rajesh Kumar Ranjan provided input in the interpretation of the results and writing of the manuscript. Sujit Kumar Swain provided technical assistance in the study from collection of sediment samples to analysis and interpretation of data. All authors participated in the revision of the final manuscript and approved it.

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Correspondence to Purushothaman Parthasarathy.

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Parthasarathy, P., Asok, M., Ranjan, R.K. et al. Bioavailability and risk assessment of trace metals in sediments of a high-altitude eutrophic lake, Ooty, Tamil Nadu, India. Environ Sci Pollut Res 28, 18616–18631 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-020-11232-x

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