Environ Monit Assess (2016) 188:461
DOI 10.1007/s10661-016-5471-4
Arsenic distribution in waters and its geochemical behavior
in sediment of Mahanadi estuary in India
Sanjay Kumar Mandal & Natasha Majumder &
Chumki Chowdhury & T. K. Jana & Buddhadeb Dutta
Received: 8 February 2016 /Accepted: 4 July 2016
# Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2016
Abstract Distribution of arsenic in the marine environment
is associated with its biogeochemical behavior. Indeed,
very few studies have been conducted along the
seasonal cycle to show its non-conservative behavior in
the tropical estuary. TheMahanadi River, one of themajor
tropical rivers in the peninsular India, drains densely
populated and industrialized region of Paradeep port.
Over this 1-year study, the variations of inorganic arsenic
were examined along the salinity gradient of the Mahanadi
estuary, with the aim to provide some insights into
the mechanisms that control arsenic concentrations and
behavior under estuarine mixing. Arsenic in the estuary
was derived from both natural and anthropogenic sources,
and it displayed partial removal from the water in the
mixing zone. Results of geo-accumulation index indicated
that sediments were uncontaminated and they acted as a
sink for arsenic. The diffusive fluxes from water to sediment
were estimated to be 9.05 μg m−2 day−1 at
Chaumohona, 9.83 μg m−2 day−1 at Kaudia, and
11.85 μg m−2 day−1 at Neherubunglow. The findings of
the study suggest that both the removal of arsenic by
biogeochemical processes and its diffusive transport from
water to sediment are of major importance for both the
non-conservative behavior of arsenic in the estuary and its
export to the coastal water.
Keywords Metalloid . Non-conservative behavior .
Source and sink . Sediment diffusion . Tropical estuary
Introduction
The increasing concern for arsenic is associated with its
potential toxicity and wide contamination in coastal environments
(Geiszinger and Goessler, 2002; Smedley and
Kinniburgh 2002). Levels of dissolved arsenic (As) in
most of the major world rivers range between 1 and
3 ppb (parts per billion). Relatively high As concentrations
(72–1400 ppb) could occur (i.e., the Loa and Tocona
in Chile, the Waikato in New Zealand and the Madisone
in the USA) due to contamination from thermal springs
source (Ravenscroft et al. 2009). Elevated arsenic concentration
commonly observed in coastal water is strongly
influenced by the riverine input, atmospheric deposition,
selective uptake by algae, degradability of organisms,
adsorption and suspended particles and human activities,
and poses increasing concern of potential ecological and
health impact (Erry et al. 1999).
Unlike ground water, estuaries do not have the extremely
high level of dissolvedAs formixing of riverwaterwith
less concentrated sea waters in addition to its exchange
from water to sediment (Smedley and Kinniburgh, 2002).
TheAs could show non-conservative behavior (departures
Environ Monit Assess (2016) 188:461
DOI 10.1007/s10661-016-5471-4
S. K. Mandal
Sundarban Hazi Desarat College, 24 Pgs (South), Pathankhali,
India
N. Majumder : C. Chowdhury : T. K. Jana (*)
Department of Marine Science, Calcutta University, 35, B. C.
Road, Kolkata 700019, India
e-mail: tkjana@hotmail.com
B. Dutta
Department of Chemistry, Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda
Centenary College, Rahara, Kolkata 700118, India
DOI 10.1007/s10661-016-5471-4
Arsenic distribution in waters and its geochemical behavior
in sediment of Mahanadi estuary in India
Sanjay Kumar Mandal & Natasha Majumder &
Chumki Chowdhury & T. K. Jana & Buddhadeb Dutta
Received: 8 February 2016 /Accepted: 4 July 2016
# Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2016
Abstract Distribution of arsenic in the marine environment
is associated with its biogeochemical behavior. Indeed,
very few studies have been conducted along the
seasonal cycle to show its non-conservative behavior in
the tropical estuary. TheMahanadi River, one of themajor
tropical rivers in the peninsular India, drains densely
populated and industrialized region of Paradeep port.
Over this 1-year study, the variations of inorganic arsenic
were examined along the salinity gradient of the Mahanadi
estuary, with the aim to provide some insights into
the mechanisms that control arsenic concentrations and
behavior under estuarine mixing. Arsenic in the estuary
was derived from both natural and anthropogenic sources,
and it displayed partial removal from the water in the
mixing zone. Results of geo-accumulation index indicated
that sediments were uncontaminated and they acted as a
sink for arsenic. The diffusive fluxes from water to sediment
were estimated to be 9.05 μg m−2 day−1 at
Chaumohona, 9.83 μg m−2 day−1 at Kaudia, and
11.85 μg m−2 day−1 at Neherubunglow. The findings of
the study suggest that both the removal of arsenic by
biogeochemical processes and its diffusive transport from
water to sediment are of major importance for both the
non-conservative behavior of arsenic in the estuary and its
export to the coastal water.
Keywords Metalloid . Non-conservative behavior .
Source and sink . Sediment diffusion . Tropical estuary
Introduction
The increasing concern for arsenic is associated with its
potential toxicity and wide contamination in coastal environments
(Geiszinger and Goessler, 2002; Smedley and
Kinniburgh 2002). Levels of dissolved arsenic (As) in
most of the major world rivers range between 1 and
3 ppb (parts per billion). Relatively high As concentrations
(72–1400 ppb) could occur (i.e., the Loa and Tocona
in Chile, the Waikato in New Zealand and the Madisone
in the USA) due to contamination from thermal springs
source (Ravenscroft et al. 2009). Elevated arsenic concentration
commonly observed in coastal water is strongly
influenced by the riverine input, atmospheric deposition,
selective uptake by algae, degradability of organisms,
adsorption and suspended particles and human activities,
and poses increasing concern of potential ecological and
health impact (Erry et al. 1999).
Unlike ground water, estuaries do not have the extremely
high level of dissolvedAs formixing of riverwaterwith
less concentrated sea waters in addition to its exchange
from water to sediment (Smedley and Kinniburgh, 2002).
TheAs could show non-conservative behavior (departures
Environ Monit Assess (2016) 188:461
DOI 10.1007/s10661-016-5471-4
S. K. Mandal
Sundarban Hazi Desarat College, 24 Pgs (South), Pathankhali,
India
N. Majumder : C. Chowdhury : T. K. Jana (*)
Department of Marine Science, Calcutta University, 35, B. C.
Road, Kolkata 700019, India
e-mail: tkjana@hotmail.com
B. Dutta
Department of Chemistry, Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda
Centenary College, Rahara, Kolkata 700118, India
