Abstract

The heavy metals inventory and the ecological risk of the coastal sediments from Periyakalapattu to Parangipettai coast along the Bay of Bengal coastline, Tamilnadu, India were investigated. The concentration of heavy metals like Mg, Al, Si, K, Ca, Ti, Fe, V, Cr, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Cd, Ba, La and Pb were determined in sediment using energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) technique. The mean concentration of heavy metal found in the order of Mn> Ba > V > Cr > Zn > La > Ni > Si >Pb> Co > As > Cd > Cu > Al > Fe >Ca> Ti > K > Mg. The assessment of heavy metal enrichment as well as the contamination status in the sediments was determined by the pollution load index. Further the potential ecological risk of heavy metals in sediments studied by different sediment quality guidelines (SQGs).