EVALUATION OF COASTAL BEACH SEDIMENTS IN CHENNAI COAST, SE COAST OF INDIA

Chennai is a metropolitan city in the South east coast of India with a long coast line extending upto 80 km. The coastal side is being occupied by large scale industrial complexes in the north and residential resorts in the southern side of the city. The present study is mainly focused to know the enrichment pattern of toxic trace metals in the beach sediments, its physico chemical properties (in water) and the distribution pattern of sediments (especially heavy minerals). Sediment samples were collected from 57 different locations to know the concentration pattern of trace elements (Fe, Mn, Cr, Cu, Ni, Co, Pb, Zn, Cd) and likewise eight transects were selected to study about the distribution pattern of sediment distribution pattern and heavy mineral concentrations. Likewise, water samples were also collected during two different seasons to understand about the distribution pattern of physico chemical parameters. The overall results generated indicate that some uncontrolled effluent channels and rivers (Ennore Creek, Adayar, Coovum) which enter in the northern part of the study area pumps in huge quantity of waste effluents, which in time are washed ashore or transported by the long shore currents to the southern part and further south. The seasonal distribution pattern of physic chemical pattern and comparison, evaluation of enrichment pattern of elements with USEPA values also indicates that many of the parameters are above the permissible limit in the northern side of the study area. Care should be taken to avoid any further deterioration of the coastal region so that it does not affect the productivity cycle in this region.