Distribution of metals and radionuclides in the offshore of Kalpakkam, South India

Abstract

Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research, Kalpakkam is located along the east coast about 60 km from Chennai. In order to assess the levels of major elements, trace elements, natural radionuclide and man made radionuclides into the off shore environment of Kalpakkam about nine water samples were collected during March (Summer) 2005 in the off shore of Mamallapuram, Kalpakkam and river Palar. The observed average concentration of Zn, Cu, Co, Ni and Cr was 75.0, 25.3, 47.0, 26.2 and 55.1 µg g-1 for March (Summer) 2005 and 56.4, 27.1, 3.5, 33.3 and 54.5 µg g-1 during August (SW Monsoon) 2005 is comparable for both the season. The geo accumulation index (Igeo) for Zn, Cu, Co, Ni and Cr were less than one in all location for both the season shows the natural weathering of sediments. The pollution load index (PLI) was 0.36 and 0.27 for the month of March (Summer) 2005 and August (SW Monsoon) 2005 shows no pollution in the present study. The ecotoxicological study such as probable effect level (PEL) and effect range median (ERM) shows the toxicity free from trace elements in this study. An average concentration of 226Ra, 228Ra and 40K observed in the present study were 17.19, 87.41, 381.91 respectively for the month of August (SW Monsoon) 2005 followed by 12.12, 67.94 and 293.53 respectively for the month of August (SW Monsoon) 2005. If 137Cs/90Sr ratio in seawater was between 1 and 3 it would indicate global atmospheric fallout UNSCEAR 1993. Since the average 137Cs/90Sr ratio in the present study was 1.36 it can be concluded that it would only global atmospheric fallout and there was no significant contribution/pollution by the Madras Atomic Power Station at Kalpakkam.