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This research examined heavy metals distribution and potential environmental impact in seven locations along the Bhavnagar coast in Gujarat, India. The study used several analyses, including hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA), principal component analysis (PCA), and correlation analysis to investigate the harmful heavy metals present in the area. To evaluate the possible risk of Cd, Pb, Cr, Zn, Co, Cu, Ni, Mn, and Fe to the marine environment, pollution indices such as contamination factors (Cf), enrichment factor (Ef), geo-accumulation index (Igeo), ecological risk factor (Er), ecological risk index (RI) and sediment quality guidelines (SQGs) applied. Based on the results, the mean concentration of heavy metals was ranked in the following order (mg/kg): Fe (561.4) > Mn (58.9) > Cr (42) > Zn (12.5) > Pb (8.2) > Ni (7) > Cu (5.2) > Co (2.7) > Cd (.3). Compared to the pre-monsoon and post-monsoon seasons, the results showed a diluting impact on heavy metal concentrations during the monsoon season. The spatial distribution of the heavy metals indicated that the geogenic source and anthropogenic source were the primary contributors to pollution in the studied region. Principal component analysis suggests that Cd, Pb, Co and Cr may have come from shipbreaking activities, municipal discharge and industrial operations. Cf, Igeo, and Ef demonstrated no pollution to moderate pollution, with a maximum contribution of Cd, and the coastal sediment poses a minimal ecological risk for all heavy metals investigated. Shipbreaking, urban runoff, salt-marine, and agricultural runoff release toxic metals into the coastal environment. In conclusion, the information obtained from this geochemical characterization could be valuable to policymakers and stakeholders in developing effective management measures for the Bhavnagar coastal region, Gulf of Khambhat, Gujarat, India.
Gosai et al. (Mon,) studied this question.