A statistical analysis–driven assessment of heavy metal risks in coastal sediments of the Gulf of Kutch, India: Integrating field data with meta-analysis

IF 7.6 2区环境科学与生态学 Q1 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES

Environmental Pollution Pub Date : 2025-07-18 DOI:10.1016/j.envpol.2025.126860

Deep D. Dudiya , Pranav J. Pandya , Barathan Balaji Prasath , Subhash I. Parmar , Ketankumar Yogi , A.M. Elsawah , Darwin Ramteke , Sebaj H. Gori

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Abstract

This study presents a comprehensive assessment of heavy metal contamination in the coastal sediments of the Gulf of Kutch (GoK), India, using integrated statistical techniques and meta-analysis. Sediment samples were collected from eight intertidal locations (Jakhau, Kathda/Mandvi, Modhva, Luni, Kandla, Navlakhi, Rozi Port, and Sikka), representing a gradient of anthropogenic influence. A total of 72 sediment cores were analyzed using X-ray Fluorescence (XRF), and pollution was evaluated through indices including the Contamination Factor (CF), Enrichment Factor (EF), Geo-accumulation Index (Igeo), Pollution Load Index (PLI), and Modified Degree of Contamination (mCd). The results revealed the presence of 28 trace elements, with dominant concentrations in the order: Ca > Al > Fe > Na > K > Sr > Mn > Ba > Zr > V > Cr > Zn > Ni > Nd > Cu > Sm > Y > Ga > Th > Co > As > U > Ta > Hg > Se > Pb > Ag > Cd. Mercury (Hg) exhibited localized enrichment, particularly at industrial and port-influenced sites. Statistical analysis (ANOVA, M-estimation) revealed significant spatial variability in metal concentrations, whereas depth-wise analysis indicated limited vertical differentiation, likely due to bioturbation and hydrodynamic mixing. The Pollution Load Index was found to be 1.25 across most sites, indicating pollution load. Among the analyzed contaminants, mercury (Hg) was observed to have Igeo value between 3 and 5 with average mercury concentration of 0.79 ppm indicating matter of concern coinciding with the threshold limits. A meta-analysis of regional studies further contextualized the observed metal levels within broader environmental trends. These findings underscore the need for continued monitoring and mitigation of trace metal inputs to protect marine ecosystems and human health in this sensitive coastal zone.

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印度库奇湾沿海沉积物重金属风险的统计分析驱动评估：整合现场数据与元分析

本研究采用综合统计技术和荟萃分析，对印度库奇湾（GoK）沿海沉积物中的重金属污染进行了综合评估。8个潮间带地点（Jakhau、Kathda/Mandvi、Modhva、Luni、Kandla、Navlakhi、Rozi Port和Sikka）的沉积物样本呈现出人为影响的梯度。利用x射线荧光（XRF）对72个沉积物岩心进行了分析，并通过污染系数（CF）、富集系数（EF）、地积指数（Igeo）、污染负荷指数（PLI）和修正污染度（mCd）等指标对污染进行了评价。结果表明，样品中存在28种微量元素，其含量顺序为：Ca >；阿尔比;菲比;Na在K比;老的在Mn祝辞英航在Zr祝辞V比;Cr祝辞锌比;倪祝辞Nd祝辞铜比;Sm祝辞Y比;遗传算法在Th祝辞公司在比;你的在助教比;Hg祝辞Se祝辞Pb祝辞Ag)在镉汞（Hg）表现出局部富集，特别是在工业和受港口影响的地点。统计分析（ANOVA, M-estimation）揭示了金属浓度的显著空间变异，而深度分析表明，可能由于生物扰动和水动力混合，金属浓度的垂直分化有限。大部分地点的污染负荷指数为1.25，显示污染负荷。在分析的污染物中，汞（Hg）的Igeo值在3 ~ 5之间，平均汞浓度为0.79ppm，表明关注物质符合阈值限值。区域研究的荟萃分析进一步将观察到的金属水平置于更广泛的环境趋势中。这些发现强调需要继续监测和减少微量金属的输入，以保护这一敏感沿海地区的海洋生态系统和人类健康。

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来源期刊

Environmental Pollution 环境科学-环境科学

CiteScore

16.00

自引率

6.70%

发文量

2082

审稿时长

2.9 months

期刊介绍： Environmental Pollution is an international peer-reviewed journal that publishes high-quality research papers and review articles covering all aspects of environmental pollution and its impacts on ecosystems and human health. Subject areas include, but are not limited to: • Sources and occurrences of pollutants that are clearly defined and measured in environmental compartments, food and food-related items, and human bodies; • Interlinks between contaminant exposure and biological, ecological, and human health effects, including those of climate change; • Contaminants of emerging concerns (including but not limited to antibiotic resistant microorganisms or genes, microplastics/nanoplastics, electronic wastes, light, and noise) and/or their biological, ecological, or human health effects; • Laboratory and field studies on the remediation/mitigation of environmental pollution via new techniques and with clear links to biological, ecological, or human health effects; • Modeling of pollution processes, patterns, or trends that is of clear environmental and/or human health interest; • New techniques that measure and examine environmental occurrences, transport, behavior, and effects of pollutants within the environment or the laboratory, provided that they can be clearly used to address problems within regional or global environmental compartments.