Geochemical and geospatial assessment of Tamiraparani river, draining through Kanyakumari, India—the gateway of sunrise and sunset: insights into environmental pollution and sustainability

The study of river basin systems regarding sediment health and contamination is significant considering the interferences of natural and anthropogenic causes. To understand the impact of these interferences in the sediment quality in one of the riverine systems in Southern Western Ghats, the geochemical analysis and pollution load assessment were carried out in the Tamiraparani River Basin in the Kanyakumari district, Tamil Nadu, State of India. This research utilized an X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectrometer to analyze major metal oxides and trace elements. The levels of heavy metal contamination in the sediments were evaluated using metrics such as the Contamination Factor (CF), Degree of Contamination (Cd), Geo accumulation Index (I_geo), Pollution Load Index (PLI), and Enrichment Factor (EF). The observed mean metal concentration was in the descending order of Cu > Ba > Sr > Cr > Zn > Rb > V > La > Ni > Y > Ga. The average concentration of Cr (142.94 ppm), Cu (171.06 ppm), and Zn (139.61 ppm) was found to be greater than the World Average Shale Values in the river. The analysis showed moderate pollution levels for Cr and Zn in certain locations and a high pollution level for Cu in two sampling locations. Cu and Cr are likely to be toxic to organisms inhabiting sediments when evaluated against Sediment Quality Guidelines (SQGs). Based on the PLI value, the study area can be classified as not polluted. This study offers a thorough insight into metal pollution in river sediments across the Tamiraparani River, a very dependent riverine system in the Southern Western Ghats, having direct implications for the quality of life of the people in the area. The data generated will serve as a valuable reference for managing pollutant discharge in riverine systems of similar types.