57 results on '"S. Veerasingam"'
Search Results
2. Detection and assessment of marine litter in an uninhabited island, Arabian Gulf: A case study with conventional and machine learning approaches
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S. Veerasingam, Mark Chatting, Fahad Syed Asim, Jassim Al-Khayat, and P. Vethamony
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Machine Learning ,Waste Products ,Environmental Engineering ,Environmental Chemistry ,Pollution ,Waste Management and Disposal ,Plastics ,Bathing Beaches ,Environmental Monitoring - Abstract
In 2018, the Ministry of Municipality and Environment, Qatar removed 90 t of marine litter (ML) from the Ras Rakan Island (RRI), a remote uninhabited island in the Arabian Gulf (hereinafter referred to as Gulf). To identify the sources of ML and understand the post-cleaning ML accumulation rate, a ML survey was conducted around RRI in 2019. A total of 1341 ML items were found around RRI with an average abundance of 3.4 items/m
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- 2022
3. Recent developments in analytical methods for the assessment of microplastic contamination in the groundwater
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S. Veerasingam, M. Ranjani, R. Venkatachalapathy, and P. Vethamony
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- 2022
4. Contributors
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Ahmed Ibrahimali Abdelpahman, Narsimha Adimalla, Adnan Akber, Ameena Ali, A.S. Aliewi, Muruganantham Arumugam, Atena Bagheri, M. Bagyaraj, Aboneh Bezabih, Harish Bhandary, Paramasivam Chellamuthu Ranganathan, Jianyao Chen, Duba Chena, Pritam Choudhury, Danbobi Chuluke, Sang Yong Chung, S. Deepa, Hussam Eldin Elzain, G. Gnanachandrasamy, B. Gowtham, G.I. Gunarani, Muhammed Haji, Mohamed Hassan, K. Jesuraja, T. Jeyavel Raja Kumar, V.S. Joji, Pradeep Kamaraj, Sivakumar Karthikeyan, Sugumaran Karupiah, Gemechu Kotola, Prabakaran Kulandaisamy, Christina Marcus, Meenal Mategaonkar, Mahalakshmi Mathivanan, Mbanza Missionnaire, P. Muthukumar, Sung-Ho Na, Ata Allah Nadiri, Nagoor Nasir, Sehoon Park, G. Ponnumani, R. Prakash, S.P. Prasood, A. Rajesh Kanna, A. Ramamoorthy, AL. Ramanathan, T. Ramkumar, M. Ranjani, Karuna Rao, Siamak Razzagh, Priyadarsi D. Roy, Chidambaram Sabarathinam, Sina Sadeghfam, Selvam Sekar, Radhakrishnan Selvakumar, Venkatramanan Senapathi, Kumaravel Shunmugam, K. Srinivasamoorthy, Kongeswaran Thangaraj, K.P. Thrivikramji, Meysam Vadiati, Rathinakumar Vedhachalam, S. Veerasingam, R. Venkatachalapathy, P. Vethamony, and K. Vinodh
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- 2022
5. Paleoproductivity shifts since the last 130 ka off Lakshadweep, Southeastern Arabian Sea
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Hema Achyuthan, S. Veerasingam, Kannaiyan Neelavannan, Pramod Singh, P. John Kurian, Muthusamy Prakasam, Pankaj Kumar, S. M. Hussain, and N. Mohammed Nishath
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0106 biological sciences ,Total organic carbon ,010504 meteorology & atmospheric sciences ,Ecology ,010604 marine biology & hydrobiology ,Arabian Sea ,Sediment ,Last Glacial Maximum ,Aquatic Science ,Monsoon ,01 natural sciences ,Oceanography ,SW monsoon ,Interglacial ,Animal Science and Zoology ,Stadial ,Glacial period ,Calcium carbonate ,Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics ,Holocene ,Geology ,Organic carbon ,0105 earth and related environmental sciences ,Paleoproductivity - Abstract
Marine sediment deposited on the ocean floor and near coastal areas, the western coastal regions of India provide records of monsoonal shifts and productivity. To understand the paleoproductivity in the northern Indian Ocean, we analyzed carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, sulfur, total organic carbon (TOC) and calcium carbonate (CaCO3) in a deep-sea sediment core collected using gravity corer (GC-01) off Lakshadweep, Southeastern Arabian Sea. The results were then compared with the previous data generated from the surrounding area sediment cores to understand the productivity variations since the last 130 ka. The CaCO3 content in the sediment core varies from 40.82% to 62.48% (with a mean value of 51.96%) and it is noted that these values were lower during the glacial episodes (Marine Isotope Stages-2 and 4) than the interglacial episodes (MIS-1, 3 and 5). The C/N ratio varied from 0.14 to 34.25, but was less than 9, since ∼74 ka to recent, suggesting a marine origin for the organic carbon. The C/N ratio fluctuated significantly during MIS-5, and relatively the highest C/N ratio was observed at 5e ∼127, 5d ∼110 and 5b ∼85 ka, corresponding to stadials 5b and 5d, (except 5e) indicating terrestrial OC from C3 plants. The low C/N ratios during ∼128, ∼102, ∼76 and ∼32 ka match with the interstadials especially during MIS 5 (5a, 5c and 5e), correspondingly, and are marine OC in the source. This suggests that the MIS-5 stadial was interrupted via land source signifying higher productivity owing to the strong southwest monsoon during these periods. Further, high productivity was also observed during the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) and Holocene in the Southeastern Arabian Sea since the 130 ka. Ministry of Earth Science (MoES), Govt. of India with reference number MoES/16/07/11(i)-RDEAS and MoES/P.O.(Seismic)8(09)-Geochron/2012
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- 2021
6. Assemblage of Encrusting Organisms on Floating Marine Debris along the West Coast of Qatar
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Al-Khayat, Jassim Abdulla, primary, S, Veerasingam, additional, V.M, Aboobacker, additional, and P, Vethamony, additional
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- 2021
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
7. A new method for analyzing microplastic particle size distribution in marine environmental samples
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R. Venkatachalapathy, Andrei Bagaev, Evgeniy G. Sakhon, Vladimir S. Mukhanov, Daria Litvinyuk, and S. Veerasingam
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Microplastics ,Discharge ,Soil science ,Plant Science ,Roundness (object) ,Insect Science ,Particle-size distribution ,Environmental science ,Particle ,Animal Science and Zoology ,Seawater ,Transect ,Bay ,Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics - Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) are recognized as a global emerging threat to aquatic ecosystems and biodiversity worldwide. Though the number of publications and interest to the MP research have been increased rapidly, it is still hamper to compare the obtained data due to the usage of different methodologies in MP assay. Thus, there is an urgent need for a standardized approach to the procedures of MP quantification in order to produce comparative assessments. In this pilot study, the conventional NOAA protocol of MP extraction from seawater was combined with a simple and inexpensive method for analyzing shape and size spectrum of all MP particles making up the sample. A common flatbed scanner equipped with slide adapter was applied for image acquisition while MP dispersive properties (particle abundance, shape and size spectrum) were quantified using ImageJ software. Feret’s diameter and circularity (or roundness) appeared to be the most efficient shape descriptors for the particle analysis. The total silhouette area of MP particles was shown to produce a confident approximation of the MP overall mass. The first reliable estimates of MP concentrations in the Black Sea coastal waters (Sevastopol Bay) accounted for 0.6 to 7 items m-3 and 6 to750 µg m-3 in terms of abundance and mass, respectively. No steady-state gradients have been revealed in MP distribution along the transect from the mouth of the bay to its corner. Inflow of MP to the bay waters and their transport along the bay seemed to be controlled by a complex combination of factors including rainfalls, wind regimes, currents and the Black river discharge.
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- 2019
8. Seasonal variation, polymer hazard risk and controlling factors of microplastics in beach sediments along the southeast coast of India
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M. Ranjani, S. Veerasingam, R. Venkatachalapathy, T.P.S. Jinoj, L. Guganathan, M. Mugilarasan, and P. Vethamony
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Geologic Sediments ,Polymers ,Microplastics ,Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis ,Humans ,India ,Seasons ,General Medicine ,Toxicology ,Plastics ,Pollution ,Water Pollutants, Chemical ,Environmental Monitoring - Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) and its associated organic and inorganic contaminants are one among the significant health hazards to almost all biota, including human. We investigated the polymer hazard risk and its adsorbed contaminants in MPs at six prominent beaches of Chennai on the southeast coast of India. The spatial variation of MPs during the northeast (NE) monsoon (range: 76-720 items/kg, mean: 247.4 items/kg) was higher than that during southwest (SW) monsoon (range: 84-498 items/kg, mean: 302.7 items/kg). In both the seasons, polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) were the dominant polymers and fibre was the predominant shape of MPs, likely to be derived from fishing, textile and urban activities in this region. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) images exhibited various surface weathering features including grooves, cracks, fractures, adhering particles, pits, vermiculate textures and fibre reinforcements. Energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer (EDS) results showed that MPs have adsorbed major (Si, Al, Na, Mg, Ca, Fe and Ti) and trace (Cu, Cr, Ni, Pb and Zn) metals. Though pollution load index (PLI) presented low degree of MP contamination in the beach sediments, hazardous polymers such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyamide (PA) and polystyrene (PS) contributed to high polymer hazard index (PHI) and potential ecological risk index (PERI), posing very high risk to the biota. The trajectories obtained from particle-tracking coupled with hydrodynamic simulation clearly showed that 20% of MPs settled along the coast and the remaining moved towards north, alongshore and offshore (∼50 km) within 30 days, and in NE monsoon due to current reversal, the floating debris and MPs have drifted towards south, ∼40 km in 30 days, indicating the role of circulation in the fate and transport pathways of plastic debris.
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- 2022
9. Hitchhiking of encrusting organisms on floating marine debris along the west coast of Qatar, Arabian/Persian Gulf
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P. Vethamony, Jassim A. Al-Khayat, V. M. Aboobacker, and S. Veerasingam
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Spirobranchus ,Qatar coast ,Environmental Engineering ,010504 meteorology & atmospheric sciences ,Marine debris ,Biodiversity ,010501 environmental sciences ,01 natural sciences ,Megabalanus coccopoma ,Fouling biota ,Rafting ,Environmental Chemistry ,Bryozoa ,Animals ,Humans ,Marine ecosystem ,Waste Management and Disposal ,Indian Ocean ,Qatar ,Ecosystem ,0105 earth and related environmental sciences ,Polychaete ,biology ,Ecology ,Thoracica ,biology.organism_classification ,Pollution ,Geography ,Non-indigenous species ,Global biodiversity - Abstract
The floating marine debris (FMD) and the associated rafting communities are one of the major stressors to ecosystem services, global biodiversity and economy and human health. In this study, assemblages of encrusting organisms on different types of stranded FMD along the west coast of Qatar, Arabian/Persian Gulf (hereafter referred to as ‘Gulf’) were examined. The analysis showed 18 fouling species belonging to 5 phyla (Annelida, Anthropoda, Bryozoa, Mollusca and Porifera) on the FMD. The most abundant fouling species were the encrusting Amphibalanus amphitrite, polychaete Spirobranchus kraussii, Bryozoan species and Megabalanus coccopoma. More number of taxa were found on larger size FMD than on smaller FMD. Some of the barnacle rafting types were found to be non-indigenous species. The central and northwest parts of the Qatar had more FMD and fouled species than in other locations. Winds and the prevailing hydrodynamic conditions (waves and currents) played an important role in the transportation and distribution of FMD and associated organisms along the west coast of Qatar. The present study confirmed that huge amount of bio-fouled FMD items, causing great damage to biodiversity, drift in the surface layer of ocean and eventually strand onto the beaches. We propose a simple, but an effective management plan for FMD and associated organisms at regional scale to restore the biodiversity, sustainability and health of the marine ecosystem in the Gulf. This work was carried out under the IRCC International Research Co-Fund Collaboration Program (IRCC-2019-002), and executed through ORS, Qatar University. Open Access funding provided by the Qatar National Library.
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- 2020
10. Assessment of potential ecological risk of microplastics in the coastal sediments of India: A meta-analysis
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M, Ranjani, S, Veerasingam, R, Venkatachalapathy, M, Mugilarasan, Andrei, Bagaev, Vladimir, Mukhanov, and P, Vethamony
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Geologic Sediments ,Microplastics ,India ,Cities ,Plastics ,Risk Assessment ,Water Pollutants, Chemical ,Environmental Monitoring - Abstract
Abundance, chemical composition and ecological risk of microplastics (MPs) in terrestrial and marine environments have merited substantial attention from the research communities. This is the first attempt to comprehend the ecological risk of MPs in sediments along the Indian coast using meta-data. Polymer hazard index (PHI), pollution load index (PLI) and potential ecological risk index (PERI) were used to evaluate the quality of sediments. Areas have high PHI values (1000) due to the presence of polymers with high hazard scores such as polyamide (PA) and polystyrene (PS). According to PLI values, sediments along the west coast of India (WCI) are moderately contaminated with MPs (PLI: 3.03 to 15.5), whereas sediments along the east coast of India (ECI) are less contaminated (PLI: 1 to 6.14). The PERI values of sediments along the Indian coast showed higher ecological risk for the metropolitan cities, river mouths, potential fishing zones and the remote islands.
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- 2020
11. Sources, spatial distribution and characteristics of marine litter along the west coast of Qatar
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S., Veerasingam, Al-Khayat, Jassim A., Aboobacker, V.M., Hamza, Shafeeq, and Vethamony, P.
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Qatar coast ,Macro-plastics ,Marine litter ,Gulf circulation ,Environmental monitoring - Abstract
The spatial distribution, sources and characteristics of marine litter (ML) from 36 locations spread over 12 beaches along the west coast of Qatar have been assessed. A total of 2376 ML items with varying sizes were found with an average abundance of 1.98 items/m2. The order of abundance of ML along the coast was as follows: plastics (71.4%) > metal (9.3%) > glass (5.1%) > paper (4.4%) > fabric (4.0%) > rubber (3.9%) > processed wood (2.0%). Locations in the south and northwest coasts of Qatar had significantly higher concentrations of ML. Surprisingly, nearly 47% of the beached polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles were derived from the countries bordering the Arabian/Persian Gulf (Gulf), and most of them were produced in the last 2 years. The plastic materials were drifted by winds and currents to the Qatar coast. Gulf circulation provides evidence to the pathways of ML beached on the Qatar coast. We acknowledge ORS, QU for awarding the Project (QUEX-ESC-QP-TM-18/19), funded by the Qatar Petroleum.
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- 2020
12. Spatial distribution, structural characterization and weathering of tarmats along the west coast of Qatar
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S., Veerasingam, Al-Khayat, Jassim A., Haseeba, K.P., Aboobacker, V.M., Hamza, Shafeeq, and Vethamony, P.
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West coast of Qatar ,Spectral indices ,Weathering ,Tarmat ,ATR-FTIR - Abstract
Oil pollution resulting from natural and anthropogenic activities in the Arabian Gulf as well as oil residue in the form of tarmat (TM) deposited on the coast is a major environmental concern. The spatial distribution, chemical composition and weathering pattern of tarmat along the west coast of Qatar has been assessed based on the TM samples collected from 12 coastal regions. The range of TM distribution is 0–104 g m−1 with an average value of 9.25 g m−1. Though the current TM level is thirty-fold lesser than that was found during 1993–1997 (average 290 g m−1), the distribution pattern is similar. The results of ATR-FTIR spectroscopy indicate that aromatic compounds are higher in the north (N) coast TMs than those found in the northwest (NW) and southwest (SW) coasts, and Carbonyl Index values indicate that TM of NW coast is highly weathered compared to those found in the N and SW coasts. ORS, QU Project (QUEX-ESC-QP-TM-18/19), funded by the Qatar Petroleum.
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- 2020
13. COVID-19 Personal Protection Equipment (PPE): A Potential Source of Microplastic Pollution in the State of Qatar
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S. Veerasingam, Jassim A. Al-Khayat, and P. Vethamony
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Pollution ,Microplastics ,Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) ,media_common.quotation_subject ,COVID-19 ,FTIR ,Environmental protection ,Environmental science ,Potential source ,Personal Protection Equipment ,Personal protection equipment ,Qatar ,media_common - Abstract
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has become a global pandemic. The personal protection equipment (PPE), especially medical face masks and N95 filtering face piece respirators (FFRs) are typically worn by people at home/office/working place/outside to protect from infection. Thus, the increase in consumption of facemasks and FFRs across Qatar has given rise to a new environmental challenge, adding to the vast plastic waste in the environment. Our team has already established the baseline levels of marine litter (ML) including plastic waste along the west coast of Qatar based on November 2019 ML survey (Veerasingam et al., 2020a). To study the impact of COVID-19 on ML, we have conducted another survey along the west coast of Qatar in July 2020. The distribution of PPE is higher on the southern part of west coast of Qatar than the northern part. Attenuated total reflectance - Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy was used to characterize the polymer types of surgical facemasks, N95 FFRs and gloves. Polypropylene (PP) and polyamide (PA) were the abundant polymer types of PPEs. This study confirmed that the PPE could be a potential source for microplastic contaminant in the environment, especially if the present situation continues. Therefore, proper waste removal measures have to be followed.
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- 2020
14. WorldView-3 mapping of Tarmat deposits of the Ras Rakan Island, Northern Coast of Qatar: Environmental perspective
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Jassim A. Al-Khayat, S. Veerasingam, Sankaran Rajendran, Sobhi Nasir, Hamad Al-Saad Al-Kuwari, Fadhil N. Sadooni, and P. Vethamony
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0106 biological sciences ,Tar deposit ,Mineralogy ,Image processing ,010501 environmental sciences ,Aquatic Science ,Oceanography ,01 natural sciences ,Soil ,WorldView-3 ,Short wave infrared ,Qatar ,0105 earth and related environmental sciences ,Sabkha ,Islands ,geography ,Environmental perspective ,geography.geographical_feature_category ,Feature (archaeology) ,010604 marine biology & hydrobiology ,Water ,Vegetation ,Models, Theoretical ,Pollution ,VNIR ,Panchromatic film ,Mapping ,Ras Rakan Island ,Geology - Abstract
This study characterizes the spectral behavior of tarmats and maps the tarmat deposits found along the coast of Ras Rakan Island off Qatar using WorldView-3 (WV-3) sensor data. The laboratory spectra of tar materials showed diagnostic absorptions features at 0.6 and 1.1 μm in the visible and near-infrared (VNIR) and 1.52, 1.73, 2.04, and 2.31 μm in the short wave infrared (SWIR) region. The panchromatic grayscale image and FCC showed the tarmat deposit as a linear warp feature between beach and water. The mapping of deposits using WV-3 data by decorrelation stretch and Linear Spectral Unmixing (LSU) methods discriminated the tarmats from the sandy soil, vegetation and sabkha features in a different tone. The capability of WV-3 sensor and the potential of image processing methods were verified by mapping the tar distribution of the Ras Ushayriq and NE of Al Ruwais. Office of Research Studies, Qatar University for awarding the Project (QUEX-ESC-QP-TM-18/19) funded by the Qatar Petroleum to ESC.
- Published
- 2020
15. Sources, spatial distribution and characteristics of marine litter along the west coast of Qatar
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S, Veerasingam, Jassim A, Al-Khayat, V M, Aboobacker, Shafeeq, Hamza, and P, Vethamony
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Waste Products ,Metals ,Plastics ,Qatar ,Bathing Beaches ,Environmental Monitoring - Abstract
The spatial distribution, sources and characteristics of marine litter (ML) from 36 locations spread over 12 beaches along the west coast of Qatar have been assessed. A total of 2376 ML items with varying sizes were found with an average abundance of 1.98 items/m
- Published
- 2020
16. Spatial distribution, structural characterization and weathering of tarmats along the west coast of Qatar
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S, Veerasingam, Jassim A, Al-Khayat, K P, Haseeba, V M, Aboobacker, Shafeeq, Hamza, and P, Vethamony
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Petroleum Pollution ,Qatar ,Weather ,Water Pollutants, Chemical ,Environmental Monitoring - Abstract
Oil pollution resulting from natural and anthropogenic activities in the Arabian Gulf as well as oil residue in the form of tarmat (TM) deposited on the coast is a major environmental concern. The spatial distribution, chemical composition and weathering pattern of tarmat along the west coast of Qatar has been assessed based on the TM samples collected from 12 coastal regions. The range of TM distribution is 0-104 g m
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- 2020
17. Assessment of Tarmat contamination and its chemical characterization along the west coast of Qatar, Arabian Gulf
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P. Vethamony, Haseeba Kaiprath Puthiyapurayil, Jassim A. Al-Khayat, Shafeeq H, and S. Veerasingam
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Oceanography ,West coast ,Contamination ,Geology ,Tarmat ,Pollution ,ATR-FTIR ,Qatar - Abstract
Tarmat/Oil residue (hereafter ‘TM’) is one of the serious threats to the marine ecosystem due to their toxicity, persistence and bioaccumulation problems. To assess the level of TM contamination and to determine the primary differences in the chemical composition, a sampling campaign was conducted in 12 beaches along the west coast of Qatar. TM contamination ranged from 0 to 104 gm-1 with an average value of 9.25 gm-1. Moreover, all the TM samples were found to be highly weathered, blackish and asphalt-like material. Though the current TM pollution level is thirty-fold lesser than those found during 1993 to 1997, the contamination pattern was similar (i.e. northwestern part was highly contaminated). The distribution of TM along the Qatar coast is as follows: Low tide> high tide> berm line. Attenuated Total Reflectance Fourier Transform Infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy was used to examine the bulk chemical characteristics of the TMs. These bulk chemical characteristics have revealed several features unique to different types of TM samples.
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- 2020
18. Role of shamal and easterly winds on the wave characteristics off Qatar, central Arabian Gulf
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Ebrahim M.A.S. Al-Ansari, S.V. Samiksha, V. M. Aboobacker, S. Veerasingam, and P. Vethamony
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Arabian Gulf ,Environmental Engineering ,Oceanography ,CMEMS reanalysis waves ,Shamal winds ,Ocean Engineering ,Exclusive economic zone ,Shamal ,Wave climate ,Nashi winds ,Waves off Qatar ,Shamal waves ,Geology - Abstract
Waves in the Arabian Gulf (Gulf) are dominated by shamal winds during winter and early summer. Although wave characteristics in the Gulf are broadly studied, features associated with various wind systems are not explicitly covered, especially in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of Qatar. In this study, we analyzed the wave parameters measured off Fuwairit, north coast of Qatar during 29 October – 26 November 2019 to identify the features associated with different wind systems. The analyses have been further extended to the Gulf using the reanalysis waves obtained from the COPERNICUS Marine Environment Monitoring Services (CMEMS) to describe the monthly, seasonal and annual characteristics. Results indicate that Nashi winds influence the east and northeast coasts of Qatar with higher waves than those generated by shamal winds. We find exceptional easterly (Nashi) waves during March 2019 contributing to the highest monthly mean Hs, which is a deviation from the known long-term wave climate of the Gulf. This work was jointly carried out under the IRCC International Research Co-Fund Collaboration Program of QU and CSIR-NIO, executed through Office of Research Support (ORS), QU (IRCC-2019-002).
- Published
- 2021
19. Assessment of Tarmat Contamination and its Chemical Characterization along the West Coast of Qatar, Arabian Gulf
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Puthiyapurayil, Haseeba Kaiprath, primary, S, Veerasingam, additional, H, Shafeeq, additional, Al-Khayat, Jassim, additional, and P, Vethamony, additional
- Published
- 2020
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
20. Assessing the source of oil deposited in the surface sediment of Mormugao Port, Goa - A case study of MV Qing incident
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P.M. Nikhil Mohan, V. Trinadha Rao, P. Vethamony, Jenica Sequeira, Chayanika Rathore, Durbar Ray, S. Veerasingam, Mahua Saha, and V. Suneel
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0106 biological sciences ,Mormugao Port ,Geologic Sediments ,Fingerprint ,chemistry.chemical_element ,Mineralogy ,India ,010501 environmental sciences ,Aquatic Science ,Oceanography ,01 natural sciences ,chemistry.chemical_compound ,Petroleum Pollution ,Seawater ,Hopane ,Ships ,0105 earth and related environmental sciences ,MV Qing ,δ13C ,Carbon isotope ,010604 marine biology & hydrobiology ,Sediment ,Biomarker ,Pollution ,Hopanoids ,Hydrocarbons ,Biomarker (petroleum) ,Petroleum ,chemistry ,Isotopes of carbon ,Environmental science ,Carbon ,Surface water ,Water Pollutants, Chemical ,Environmental Monitoring - Abstract
In June 2016, a cruise vessel was grounded in the Mormugao Port, resulting in unnoticed oil spill. The surface water and sediment samples were collected from the vicinity of the ship, and also an oil sample from the ship (OIL). These samples were subject to petroleum biomarker such as pentacyclic triterpenes (hopanes) and compound specific carbon isotopic (?13C) analyses to assess the source of hydrocarbon pollution in the Mormugao Port. While no clear trend was observed in water samples, the bottom surface sediments did show an identical pattern of hopanes with the oil. The chemometric analyses of hopane Diagnostic Ratios (DRs) and ?13C ratios confirmed the ship oil as the source of oil pollution in sediments. Whereas the water is comparatively more dynamic than the sediment, the physical processes arising out of winds, waves, tides and currents might have dispersed the oil away from the grounded ship. - 2019 Elsevier Ltd We thank the Director, CSIR-NIO, Goa, for his constant support and interest in this study. We thank the Goa State Pollution Control Board for funding this project. Thanks to the GSPCB officials for their kind support during sample collection. Thanks to Dr Aninda Mazumdar and Dr Siby Kurian for providing ASE and Sample concentrator facilities. We also thank Sonam and Adarsh for their assistance during sample processing. This is CSIR-NIO contribution number 6400. Appendix A Scopus
- Published
- 2018
21. Long-Term Assessment of Onshore and Offshore Wind Energy Potentials of Qatar
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V. M. Aboobacker, P.R. Shanas, S. Veerasingam, P. Vethamony, Ebrahim M.A.S. Al-Ansari, and Fadhil N. Sadooni
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Qatar coast ,Control and Optimization ,Resource (biology) ,010504 meteorology & atmospheric sciences ,020209 energy ,Energy Engineering and Power Technology ,02 engineering and technology ,shamal winds ,lcsh:Technology ,01 natural sciences ,Atmosphere ,ERA5 reanalysis winds ,wind energy ,0202 electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering ,Electrical and Electronic Engineering ,Engineering (miscellaneous) ,0105 earth and related environmental sciences ,Wind power ,lcsh:T ,Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment ,business.industry ,Global warming ,Fossil fuel ,Renewable energy ,Offshore wind power ,Climatology ,Environmental science ,Submarine pipeline ,ENSO ,business ,Energy (miscellaneous) - Abstract
Exploitation of conventional energy resources has caused a deliberate increase in the emitted carbon in the atmosphere, which catalyzes global warming trends. This is a matter of concern, especially in Qatar, where fossil fuels (oil and gas) are largely relied upon for power production. The dependency on such resources could be gradually reduced by utilizing clean and renewable energy. Resource characterization is an important step to evaluate the potentiality of available renewable energy sources. Wind energy is one among them, which has not been assessed reliably so far in Qatar. We analyzed the wind energy potential along the onshore and offshore areas of Qatar using 40 years (1979–2018) of hourly wind data extracted from the ECMWF Reanalysis v5 (ERA5) database. Monthly, seasonal, annual, and decadal mean wind power densities have been derived. Reliability tests have been carried out at select onshore and offshore locations. Trends and inter-annual variability have been assessed. The study reveals that the available wind resources are generally moderate but consistent with no intense trends during the 40 year period. An inter-annual variability in wind power has been identified, which has secured links with the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO).
- Published
- 2021
22. Estimation of carbonate concentration and characterization of marine sediments by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy
- Author
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S. Veerasingam and R. Venkatachalapathy
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Biogeochemical cycle ,Materials science ,Bending vibration ,Mineralogy ,Biogeochemistry ,Sediment ,Condensed Matter Physics ,Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics ,Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials ,Characterization (materials science) ,chemistry.chemical_compound ,chemistry ,Carbonate ,Positive relationship ,Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy - Abstract
Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) is a well established method for the characterization of mineralogical and geochemical properties of marine sediments. Understanding the biogeochemical changes in marine ecosystems is challenging task since it requires adequate analytical techniques and efforts. Biogeochemical characteristics of twenty one marine sediment samples collected off Chennai coast, Bay of Bengal, India were analyzed using FTIR spectroscopy. The FTIR peaks at 1460 cm−1 (stretching vibration) and 880 cm−1 (bending vibration) were used for carbonate determination. To verify the FTIR results, the obtained carbonate data were compared with carbonate values obtained by chemical analyses. The ranges of carbonate in sediments using FTIR and chemical analyses were 4.5–9.6% and 4.8–10%, respectively. The significant positive relationship was obtained between the carbonate results of FTIR and chemical analyses. This study demonstrates that instead of expensive and time consuming chemical methods, FTIR spectroscopic technique is found as a suitable, rapid and effective method for the quantification of carbonate in marine sediments.
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- 2014
23. Identification and characterization of tsunami deposits off southeast coast of India from the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami: Rock magnetic and geochemical approach
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Senapathi Venkatramanan, R. Venkatachalapathy, Nathani Basavaiah, S. Veerasingam, K. Deenadayalan, and T. Ramkumar
- Subjects
Geochemistry ,Sediment ,Feldspar ,Rock magnetism ,chemistry.chemical_compound ,chemistry ,visual_art ,visual_art.visual_art_medium ,General Earth and Planetary Sciences ,Carbonate ,Submarine pipeline ,Sedimentology ,Sediment transport ,Quartz ,Geomorphology ,Geology - Abstract
The December 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami (IOT) had a major impact on the geomorphology and sedimentology of the east coast of India. Estimation of the magnitude of the tsunami from its deposits is a challenging topic to be developed in studies on tsunami hazard assessment. Two core sediments (C1 and C2) from Nagapattinam, southeast coast of India were subjected to textural, mineral, geochemical and rock-magnetic measurements. In both cores, three zones (zone I, II and III) have been distinguished based on mineralogical, geochemical and magnetic data. Zone II is featured by peculiar rock-magnetic, textural, mineralogical and geochemical signatures in both sediment cores that we interpret to correspond to the 2004 IOT deposit. Textural, mineralogical, geochemical and rock-magnetic investigations showed that the tsunami deposit is featured by relative enrichment in sand, quartz, feldspar, carbonate, SiO 2, TiO 2, K 2O and CaO and by a depletion in clay and iron oxides. These results point to a dilution of reworked ferromagnetic particles into a huge volume of paramagnetic materials, similar to what has been described in other nearshore tsunami deposits (Font et al. 2010). Correlation analysis elucidated the relationships among the textural, mineral, geochemical and magnetic parameters, and suggests that most of the quartz-rich coarse sediments have been transported offshore by the tsunami wave. These results agreed well with the previously published numerical model of tsunami induced sediment transport off southeast coast of India and can be used for future comparative studies on tsunami deposits.
- Published
- 2014
24. Distribution of clay minerals in marine sediments off Chennai, Bay of Bengal, India: Indicators of sediment sources and transport processes
- Author
-
T. Ramkumar, S. Veerasingam, and R. Venkatachalapathy
- Subjects
Stratigraphy ,Geochemistry ,Sediment ,Geology ,engineering.material ,Silt ,Feldspar ,Deposition (geology) ,chemistry.chemical_compound ,chemistry ,visual_art ,Illite ,visual_art.visual_art_medium ,engineering ,Kaolinite ,Clay minerals ,Chlorite ,Geomorphology - Abstract
Clay mineralogy, texture size and statistical analyses were carried out on surface sediments from the continental shelf of Chennai, Bay of Bengal, India. The purpose of this study is to characterize the clay mineral distribution and its relation to the hydrodynamics off Chennai to identify the sources and transport pathways of the marine sediments. Characterization of clay minerals in coastal sediments by Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy has provided the association of quartz, feldspar, kaolinite, chlorite, illite and iron oxides (magnetite and hematite) derived from river catchments and coastal erosion. Kaolinite, chlorite, illite, iron oxides, and organic matter are the dominant minerals in Cooum, and Adayar region. High quartz and feldspar zones were identified in Marina, which are being confined the sand zone and paralleling the coast. The strong relationships among the wave energy density, sand, quartz and carbonate revealed that wave induced littoral drift system play a dominant role in transportation and deposition of sediments in the Chennai coast. The sediment texture and minerals data are in agreement well with the previous results of hydrodynamics and littoral drift models in this region. Multivariate statistical analyses (correlation, cluster and factor analyses) were carried out and obtained results suggested that clay minerals and organic matter are trapped in silt and clay particles, whereas quartz, feldspar and carbonate are associated with sand particles. Results of sediment sources and transport processes from this study will be useful to predict the fate of the pollutants released from land or the potential change in sediment delivery to coastal areas.
- Published
- 2014
25. Historical environmental pollution trend and ecological risk assessment of trace metals in marine sediments off Adyar estuary, Bay of Bengal, India
- Author
-
R. Venkatachalapathy, T. Ramkumar, and S. Veerasingam
- Subjects
Pollution ,Global and Planetary Change ,geography ,geography.geographical_feature_category ,Environmental remediation ,media_common.quotation_subject ,Environmental engineering ,Soil Science ,Sediment ,Geology ,Environmental pollution ,Estuary ,engineering.material ,Environmental chemistry ,Illite ,engineering ,Environmental Chemistry ,Clay minerals ,Bay ,Earth-Surface Processes ,Water Science and Technology ,media_common - Abstract
Geochemical, mineralogical and textural analyses were carried out in core sediments off Adyar estuary, Bay of Bengal, India to record the contamination trend from urban and industrial activities during the historical past. Quartz, feldspar, kaolinite, chlorite and illite were the main lithogenic and clay minerals; carbonate was the predominant biogenic mineral. Trace metals (Fe, Al, Cu, Cr, Ni, Pb and Zn) indicate more enrichment in the surface sediment layers due to recent anthropogenic activities. The mean anthropogenic factor (AF) values for trace metals in core sediments decreased in the following order: Cr > Ni > Zn > Cu > Pb. The pollution load index (PLI) values in Adyar core sediments ranged from 1 to 1.25 with an average of 1.07. Based on AF, PLI, and sediment quality guidelines values for trace metals, significant metal enrichment and ecological risk were obtained in upper-most sediment layer. Multivariate statistical methods such as correlation matrix, principal component analysis and cluster analysis were carried out to find the relationships among the texture size, metals and minerals. The pollution of Adyar estuarine sediments was started in the 1960s, responding to the rapid economic development in Chennai coastal and Adyar estuarine region in the last five decades. Despite these high concentrations in the upper layer, development and expansion of industries are still continuing. The stricter regulations for the discharge and remediation of sediments are urgent for the conservation of environments and human health.
- Published
- 2013
26. Influence of 2015 flood on the distribution and occurrence of microplastic pellets along the Chennai coast, India
- Author
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R. Venkatachalapathy, P. Vethamony, S. Veerasingam, and M Mugilarasan
- Subjects
Hydrology ,010504 meteorology & atmospheric sciences ,Flood myth ,Polymer composition ,Discharge ,Water pollutants ,Ocean current ,Pellets ,India ,Weathering ,010501 environmental sciences ,Aquatic Science ,Oceanography ,01 natural sciences ,Pollution ,Deposition (geology) ,Floods ,Rivers ,Water Pollutants ,Plastics ,Geology ,0105 earth and related environmental sciences ,Environmental Monitoring - Abstract
The sources, distribution, surface features, polymer composition and age of microplastic pellets (MPPs) in surface sediments along the Chennai coast during March 2015 (pre-Chennai flood) and November 2015 (post-Chennai flood) were characterised using a Stereoscopic microscope and FTIR-ATR spectroscopy. White MPPs were the most abundant, and specifically polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) were the dominant polymer types of MPPs found on the coast during both the times. The abundance of MPPs in November 2015 was three-fold higher than those found in March 2015, confirming that huge quantity of fresh MPPs washed through Cooum and Adyar rivers from land during the flood. The winds and surface currents during November were the driving forces for the transportation and deposition of MPPs from the sea to beaches. The results of this study will be useful to formulate beach MPPs litter management policies to effectively create long-term solutions.
- Published
- 2016
27. Characteristics, seasonal distribution and surface degradation features of microplastic pellets along the Goa coast, India
- Author
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V. Suneel, Brundabana Naik, Andrea Carmelita Rodrigues, Mahua Saha, S. Veerasingam, Sourav Bhattacharyya, and P. Vethamony
- Subjects
Environmental Engineering ,010504 meteorology & atmospheric sciences ,Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis ,Pellets ,India ,Weathering ,Wind ,010501 environmental sciences ,Monsoon ,01 natural sciences ,Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared ,Environmental Chemistry ,Weather ,0105 earth and related environmental sciences ,Waste Products ,geography ,geography.geographical_feature_category ,Ocean current ,Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health ,Environmental engineering ,Estuary ,Biota ,General Medicine ,General Chemistry ,Pollution ,Debris ,Deposition (aerosol physics) ,Oceanography ,Environmental science ,Seasons ,Plastics ,Water Pollutants, Chemical ,Environmental Monitoring - Abstract
Microplastic pellets (MPPs) are ubiquitous contaminants, recognised as a serious threat to the biota in coastal, estuarine and marine environment. The distribution, abundance, weathering and chemical characteristics of MPPs on the beaches of Goa, and their transport to the coast during the southwest (SW) monsoon are discussed in this paper. MPP samples collected from six sandy beaches were categorised based on colour and polymer types using Stereoscope microscope and FTIR-ATR spectroscopy, respectively. White colour MPPs were the most abundant, and Polyethylene (PE) and Polypropylene (PP) were the dominant polymer types of MPPs deposited on all the beaches. Carbonyl index values showed that MPPs collected in June 2015 (representing SW monsoon) were ‘new’, whereas the MPPs collected in January 2015 were ‘aged’, showing that MPPs are arriving at Goa coast only during SW monsoon due to conducive hydrodynamic conditions. Characteristics of MPPs suggest that they could be originated primarily from ocean-based sources. The winds and surface currents during SW monsoon are the driving forces for the transportation and deposition of MPPs on the Goa beaches. The results of this study will be useful to the National ‘Clean India’ program for effective plastic debris removal management.
- Published
- 2016
28. Distribution and origin of petroleum hydrocarbons in Pichavaram mangrove swamp along Tamilnadu coast, Bay of Bengal, India
- Author
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R. Venkatachalapathy, S. Veerasingam, and V. Rajeswari
- Subjects
chemistry.chemical_compound ,Geophysics ,Oceanography ,chemistry ,Geochemistry and Petrology ,business.industry ,BENGAL ,Petroleum ,Distribution (economics) ,Mangrove ,business ,Bay ,Geology - Published
- 2012
29. Petroleum hydrocarbon concentrations in eight mollusc species along Tamilnadu coast, Bay of Bengal, India
- Author
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S. Veerasingam, R. Venkatachalapathy, P. Raja, S. Sudhakar, and V. Rajeswari
- Subjects
Pollution ,Environmental Engineering ,media_common.quotation_subject ,India ,chemistry.chemical_compound ,Dry weight ,Water Pollution, Chemical ,Animals ,Environmental Chemistry ,General Environmental Science ,media_common ,geography ,geography.geographical_feature_category ,Aquatic ecosystem ,Sediment ,Estuary ,General Medicine ,Hydrocarbons ,Petroleum ,Oceanography ,chemistry ,Mollusca ,Bioaccumulation ,Environmental chemistry ,Bay ,Geology ,Environmental Monitoring - Abstract
Eight mollusc species and sediment samples collected from three different stations along Tamilnadu coast, Bay of Bengal, India were analysed for the levels of petroleum hydrocarbons to elucidate the status of the petroleum residues in mollusc meant for human consumption. The concentrations of petroleum hydrocarbons in sediments along Tamilnadu coast varied from 5.04-25.5 microg/g dw (dry weight). High concentration of petroleum hydrocarbons in the sediment of Uppanar estuary (25.5 +/- 1.45 microg/g dw) was perhaps land and marine based anthropogenic sources of this region. The petroleum hydrocarbon residues in eight mollusc species collected from Uppanar, Vellar and Coleroon estuaries varied between 2.44-6.04 microg/g ww (wet weight). Although the concentration of petroleum hydrocarbons in sediment of the Uppanar region was markedly higher than the background, the petroleum hydrocarbon residues in mollusc collected from Uppanar estuary did not suggest bioaccumulation. The results signified that industrial growth has affected the aquatic environments and regular monitoring will help to adopt stringent pollution control measures for better management of the aquatic region.
- Published
- 2011
30. Petroleum hydrocarbon concentrations in ten commercial fish species along Tamilnadu coast, Bay of Bengal, India
- Author
-
P. Sutharsan, R. Mohamed Asanulla, R. Venkatachalapathy, S. Veerasingam, P. Raja, S. Sudhakar, R. Mohan, and V. Rajeswari
- Subjects
Pollution ,Oceans and Seas ,Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis ,media_common.quotation_subject ,Fisheries ,India ,Hydrocarbons, Aromatic ,chemistry.chemical_compound ,Water Pollution, Chemical ,Animals ,Environmental Chemistry ,Ecotoxicology ,Sardinella ,computer.programming_language ,media_common ,chemistry.chemical_classification ,geography ,geography.geographical_feature_category ,biology ,Fishes ,Estuary ,General Medicine ,biology.organism_classification ,Petroleum ,Hydrocarbon ,Seafood ,chemistry ,Environmental chemistry ,Harbour ,Environmental science ,Bay ,computer ,Water Pollutants, Chemical ,Environmental Monitoring - Abstract
The aim of the present study was to evaluate the distribution of petroleum hydrocarbons in ten commercial fish species and water samples in three estuaries along Tamilnadu coast, Bay of Bengal, India. Fish and water samples collected from Tamilnadu coast, India, were extracted and analyzed for petroleum hydrocarbons by ultraviolet fluorescence (UVF) spectroscopy. The petroleum hydrocarbon concentration (PHC) in coastal waters and fish species varied between 2.28 and 14.02 μg/l and 0.52 and 2.05 μg/g, respectively. The highest PHC concentration was obtained in Uppanar estuarine waters (14.02 ± 0.83) and the lowest was observed in Vellar estuarine waters (2.28 ± 0.25). Among the ten fish species, Sardinella longiceps have high PHC concentration from all the locations. This study suggests that S. longiceps can be used as a good biological indicator for petroleum hydrocarbon pollution in water. The concentration of petroleum hydrocarbons in coastal waters along Tamilnadu coast is markedly higher than that in the background, but there is no evidence for its increase in fish of this region. From a public health point, petroleum hydrocarbon residue levels in all fish samples analyzed in this study are considerably lower than the hazardous levels. At present, as Tamilnadu coastal area is in a rapid development stage of new harbour, chemical industries, power plants, oil exploration and other large-scale industries, further assessment of petroleum hydrocarbons and the various hydrodynamic conditions acting in the region are to be studied in detail and continuous pollution monitoring studies should be conducted for improving the aquatic environment. The results will also be useful for pollution monitoring program along the coastal region and also to check the levels of petroleum hydrocarbons.
- Published
- 2011
31. Comparison between petroleum hydrocarbon concentrations and magnetic properties in Chennai coastal sediments, Bay of Bengal, INDIA
- Author
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S. Veerasingam, Nathani Basavaiah, R. Venkatachalapathy, and T. Ramkumar
- Subjects
Chrysene ,chemistry.chemical_classification ,Stratigraphy ,Petroleum exploration ,Sediment ,Geology ,Oceanography ,Magnetic susceptibility ,chemistry.chemical_compound ,Geophysics ,Hydrocarbon ,Mining engineering ,chemistry ,Environmental chemistry ,BENGAL ,Petroleum ,Economic Geology ,Bay - Abstract
Petroleum hydrocarbon concentrations (PHC) of surface sediments along the Chennai coast, India, were measured by UV-Fluorescence (UVF) Spectroscopy and the results are expressed in terms of Chrysene equivalents. The concentration of PHC in sediment varies widely (from 1.88 ppm to 39.76 ppm) as compared to the baseline (1.88 ppm) with higher values obtained in the northern part of the study area. The highest magnetic susceptibility (96.8 × 10 −8 m 3 kg −1 ) value was determined from the Chennai harbour area. The magnetic parameters show that the Chennai coastal sediments are dominated by ferrimagnetic minerals. The positive correlation ( r 2 = 0.86; p ARM and SIRM) covary with the petroleum hydrocarbon concentration, suggesting that large amounts of magnetic minerals originate from anthropogenic activities. It is evident that using magnetic measurements may be considered a simple, rapid, cheap and non-destructive method to determine petroleum hydrocarbon concentrations in coastal sediments. Furthermore, this technique may be applied to petroleum exploration studies. Magnetic susceptibility measurements in sediments have been proposed as complementary or alternative means of exploration and assessment of hydrocarbon reservoirs.
- Published
- 2010
32. Depositional record of trace metals and degree of contamination in core sediments from the Mandovi estuarine mangrove ecosystem, west coast of India
- Author
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B. Fernandes, S. Veerasingam, R. Mani Murali, and P. Vethamony
- Subjects
geography ,Geologic Sediments ,geography.geographical_feature_category ,Sediment Analysis ,Sediment ,India ,Estuary ,Aquatic Science ,Contamination ,Oceanography ,Pollution ,Trace Elements ,Sedimentary depositional environment ,Environmental chemistry ,Metals, Heavy ,Seawater ,West coast ,Mangrove ,Mangrove ecosystem ,Estuaries ,Geology ,Ecosystem ,Water Pollutants, Chemical ,Environmental Monitoring - Abstract
The concentrations of seven trace metals (Fe, Mn, Cu, Cr, Co, Pb and Zn) in three sediment cores were analysed to assess the depositional trends of metals and their contamination level in the Mandovi estuary, west coast of India. All sediment cores showed enrichment of trace metals in the upper part of core sediments and decrease in concentration with depth, suggesting excess of anthropogenic loading (including mining activities) occurred during the recent past. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) images distinguished the shape, size and structure of particles derived from lithogenic and anthropogenic sources in core sediments. The geo-accumulation index (I(geo)) values indicate that Mandovi estuary is 'moderately polluted' with Pb, whereas 'unpolluted to moderately polluted' with Fe, Mn, Cu, Cr, Co and Zn. The comparative analysis of trace metals revealed that Fe and Mn were highly enriched in the Mandovi estuary compared to all other Indian estuaries.
- Published
- 2013
33. Environmental magnetic and petroleum hydrocarbons records in sediment cores from the north east coast of Tamilnadu, Bay of Bengal, India
- Author
-
Nathani Basavaiah, R. Venkatachalapathy, S. Veerasingam, T. Ramkumar, and K. Deenadayalan
- Subjects
Geologic Sediments ,India ,Aquatic Science ,Oceanography ,Marine pollution ,chemistry.chemical_compound ,Magnetics ,Environmental monitoring ,Water Pollution, Chemical ,Water pollution ,Indian Ocean ,Sediment ,equipment and supplies ,Pollution ,Hydrocarbons ,Petroleum ,chemistry ,Seawater ,human activities ,Bay ,Geology ,Water Pollutants, Chemical ,Environmental Monitoring - Abstract
In this study, mineral magnetic properties and petroleum hydrocarbons were statistically analysed in four sediment cores (C1, A1, T1 and K1) from the north east coast of Tamilnadu, India to examine the feasibility of PHC concentrations assessment using magnetic susceptibility. The C1 and A1 cores reveal a clear horizon of increase in PHC above 35 and 50 cm respectively suggesting the excess anthropogenic loading occurred in the recent past. Magnetic properties which were enhanced in the upper part of the sediment cores were the result of ferrimagnetic minerals from anthropogenic sources. Factor analysis confirmed that the input of magnetic minerals and petroleum hydrocarbons in Chennai coastal sediments are derived from the same sources. The present study shows that instead of expensive and destructive PHC chemical methods, magnetic susceptibility is found to be a suitable, cheap and rapid method for detailed study of petroleum hydrocarbon contamination in marine sediments.
- Published
- 2010
34. Petroleum hydrocarbon concentrations in marine sediments along Chennai Coast, Bay of Bengal, India
- Author
-
T. Ramkumar, R. Venkatachalapathy, and S. Veerasingam
- Subjects
Pollution ,Geologic Sediments ,Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis ,media_common.quotation_subject ,education ,India ,Toxicology ,Spatial distribution ,chemistry.chemical_compound ,Seawater ,Water Pollutants ,Water pollution ,Indian Ocean ,media_common ,Sediment ,General Medicine ,Hydrocarbons ,Oceanography ,Petroleum ,chemistry ,BENGAL ,Environmental science ,Water quality ,Bay ,Environmental Monitoring - Abstract
The spatial and temporal distribution of petroleum hydrocarbons (PHC) in marine sediments along the Chennai coast, Bay of Bengal was quantified by Ultra-Violet Fluorescence (UVF) Spectroscopy. The concentration of PHC in surface sediments varied from 1.88 to 39.76 ppm. The highest values obtained in the northern part of the study area, where shipping activities and land-based waste waters disposed into sea through the rivers like Kuvam and Adayar. The Adayar (7.26–16.83 ppm) and Kuvam (5.5–39.72 ppm) cores reveal a clear horizon of increase in PHC above 50 and 35 cm respectively. PHC values showed a decreasing pattern with depth in all sediment cores suggesting the excess anthropogenic loading occurring in the recent past. The present study revealed that the PHC values of Chennai coastal sediments are lower than the values reported from selected costal areas including the sediment of the Mumbai coast (7.6–42.8 ppm), Arabian Sea. The results will be useful for pollution monitoring program along the coastal region and also to check the level of petroleum hydrocarbons in marine sediments.
- Published
- 2010
35. Environmental magnetic and geochemical characteristics of Chennai coastal sediments, Bay of Bengal, India
- Author
-
S. Veerasingam, R. Venkatachalapathy, K. Deenadayalan, T. Ramkumar, and Nathani Basavaiah
- Subjects
Pollution ,Environmental magnetism ,media_common.quotation_subject ,Sediment ,equipment and supplies ,Magnetic susceptibility ,Mining engineering ,Environmental chemistry ,Harbour ,BENGAL ,General Earth and Planetary Sciences ,Single domain ,human activities ,computer ,Bay ,Geology ,computer.programming_language ,media_common - Abstract
In this study, environmental magnetic, heavy metal and statistical analyses were conducted on 21 surface sediments collected from Chennai coast, India, to examine the feasibility of heavy metal pollution using magnetic susceptibility. The Chennai coastal sediment samples are dominated by ferrimagnetic minerals corresponding to magnetite-like minerals. The percentage of frequency dependent magnetic susceptibility reflects the presence of super-paramagnetic/single domain magnetic minerals in Chennai harbour, Cooum and Adayar rivers sediments. High pollution load index in sample E1, E2, CH7, C11, C12 and A16 is mainly due to anthropogenic activities such as, harbour activities, Cooum and Adayar rivers input and industrial effluent. Factor analysis shows that the magnetic concentration dependent parameters (χ, χ ARM and SIRM) covary with the heavy metal concentrations, suggesting that the input of magnetic minerals and heavy metals in Chennai coastal sediments are derived from the same anthropogenic sources. Strong correlation obtained between pollution load index (PLI) and concentration dependent parameters (χ, χ ARM and SIRM) for the polluted samples with magnetic susceptibility excess of 50×10 − 8 m3kg − 1. Significant correlations between heavy metals and magnetic susceptibility point out the potential of magnetic screening/monitoring for simple and rapid proxy indicator of heavy metal pollution in marine sediments.
36. A comprehensive review of urban microplastic pollution sources, environment and human health impacts, and regulatory efforts.
- Author
-
Lee JY, Chia RW, Veerasingam S, Uddin S, Jeon WH, Moon HS, Cha J, and Lee J
- Subjects
- Humans, Environmental Pollution, Cities, Public Health, Water Pollutants, Chemical analysis, Microplastics analysis, Environmental Monitoring methods
- Abstract
Microplastic (MP) pollution in urban environments is a pervasive and complex problem with significant environmental and human health implications. Although studies have been conducted on MP pollution in urban environments, there are still research gaps in understanding the exact sources, regulation, and impact of urban MP on the environment and public health. Therefore, the goal of this study is to provide a comprehensive overview of the complex pathways, harmful effects, and regulatory efforts of urban MP pollution. It discusses the research challenges and suggests future directions for addressing MPs related to environmental issues in urban settings. In this study, original research papers published from 2010 to 2024 across ten database categories, including PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, and Web of Science, were selected and reviewed to improve our understanding of urban MP pollution. The analysis revealed multifaceted sources of MPs, including surface runoff, wastewater discharge, atmospheric deposition, and biological interactions, which contribute to the contamination of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. MPs pose a threat to marine and terrestrial life, freshwater organisms, soil health, plant communities, and human health through ingestion, inhalation, and dermal exposure. Current regulatory measures for MP pollution include improved waste management, upgraded wastewater treatment, stormwater management, product innovation, public awareness campaigns, and community engagement. Despite these regulatory measures, several challenges such as; the absence of standardized MPs testing methods, MPs enter into the environment through a multitude of sources and pathways, countries struggle in balancing trade interests with environmental concerns have hindered effective policy implementation and enforcement. Addressing MP pollution in urban environments is essential for preserving ecosystems, safeguarding public health, and advancing sustainable development. Interdisciplinary collaboration, innovative research, stringent regulations, and public participation are vital for mitigating this critical issue and ensuring a cleaner and healthier future for urban environments and the planet., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest All authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
37. PAHs and hopanes in the surface sediments of Qatar coast and their ecological risks: Comparison with regional and global coastal regions.
- Author
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Dib S, Veerasingam S, Alyafei T, Assali MA, Al-Khayat J, and Vethamony P
- Subjects
- Qatar, Risk Assessment, Triterpenes, Geologic Sediments chemistry, Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons analysis, Environmental Monitoring, Water Pollutants, Chemical analysis
- Abstract
The distribution, characteristics, sources and ecological risks of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and hopanes in the surface sediments collected along the Qatar coast were investigated. Concentration of ∑
14 PAHs and hopanes ranged between 0.076 and 7.04 ng g-1 (mean: 2.60 ng g-1 ), 100 and 700 ng g-1 (mean: 205 ng g-1 ), respectively. Sediment samples were dominated by high molecular weight PAHs composition (4-6 rings). Diagnostic ratios of PAH concentrations showed both petrogenic and pyrogenic origins of PAHs, with a higher percentage of pyrogenic sources. The ecological risk levels of PAHs were estimated using sediment quality guidelines (SQG), mean probable effect level quotient values (PEL-Q), carcinogenic toxic equivalent quantity (TEQ), and risk quotient (RQ) evaluation methods. The calculated TEQ values (0.00012-0.85 ng g-1 ) were lesser than those in other locations around the globe, and were also within the safe level (600 ng g-1 ) suggested by the Canadian soil quality guidelines., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors have no relevant financial or non-financial interests to disclose., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
38. Rare cause of fatal acute abdomen-celiac artery aneurysm.
- Author
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Rajahram D, Satchithanantham V, Veerasingam S, and Tharmalingam T
- Abstract
Introduction: Aneurysm of the celiac artery is a rare type of visceral artery aneurysm with an incidence of 0.1 %2%, but it carries a definitive risk of rupture. Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF-1) has a remarkable association with a spectrum of arterial diseases, including an occlusive or aneurismal disease. Less often it affects celiac arteries., Presentation of Case: Here we present a case of rupture of celiac artery aneurysm in a patient NF-1 who presented with sudden onset of acute severe epigastric pain with tenderness and guarding in the epigastric region. Computed tomography (CT) scan revealed celiac artery aneurysm with evidence of retroperitoneal hematoma. As the patient became unstable, we performed emergency laparotomy in the best interest of the patient in our setting, and we barely controlled the source of bleeding. Unfortunately, we could not save the patient as he developed disseminated intravascular coagulation due to a massive blood transfusion., Discussion: Visceral artery aneurysm should be considered in patients present with an acute abdomen with anemia. As neurofibromatosis is associated with a spectrum of a vascular disease, vascular screening needs to be considered., Conclusion: Even though celiac artery aneurysm is rare, it should be considered as one of the prompt differential diagnoses when patients present with an acute abdomen with anemia to prevent a fatal outcome., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest Authors declare there is no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)
- Published
- 2023
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
39. Seasonal variation and spatial distribution of microplastic pellets and their associated contaminants along the central east coast of India.
- Author
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Raju MP, Veerasingam S, Suneel V, Saha M, Rathore C, Naik A, Suneetha P, and Ramakrishna SSVS
- Subjects
- Seasons, Plastics, Ecosystem, Environmental Monitoring methods, India, Geologic Sediments, Microplastics, Water Pollutants, Chemical analysis
- Abstract
Microplastic pellets (MPPs) are one of the significant sources of plastic pollution on shorelines worldwide. In this study, for the first time, we have examined the occurrence of MPPs and their spatial and seasonal distributions, adsorbed contaminants, polymer composition, and ecological risks at eight renowned beaches of Andhra Pradesh, central east coast of India. A total of 3950 MPPs were collected from eight beaches along the central east coast of India during October 2020, representing pre-northeast monsoon (pNEM), and during January 2021, representing the northeast monsoon (NEM). The abundance of MPPs was higher during the NEM than those found in the pNEM. ATR-FTIR and SEM analyses were conducted to characterize the polymer types and weathering patterns of MPPs. Energy-Dispersive X-ray spectrometer (EDS) results show the MPP adsorbance of heavy metals such as Ni, Cr, Cu, Pb, and Zn. The degree of contamination and polymer hazard risks of MPPs were assessed using the pollution load index (PLI) and polymer hazard index (PHI). The conducive wind and currents during the NEM lead to higher MPP abundance than during the pNEM. However, the spatial variations of MPPs showed significant differences among the beaches. This study revealed that the presence of MPPs on the beaches along the central east coast of India might pose a considerable polymer hazard risk to the ecosystem. The substantial surface weathering features of MPPs would lead to more toxic nanoplastics in the future., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)
- Published
- 2023
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
40. Vertical and seasonal variations in biofilm formation on plastic substrates in coastal waters of the Black Sea.
- Author
-
Vladimir M, Tatiana R, Evgeniy S, Veerasingam S, and Bagaev A
- Subjects
- Seasons, Black Sea, Water, Environmental Monitoring, Plastics chemistry, Biofilms
- Abstract
Plastic contamination of the marine environment is an increasing concern worldwide. Therefore, it is important to understand the kinetics of biofilms on plastics to study their behavior, fate, and transport pathways in the ocean. In this study, the vertical and seasonal variations in biofouling formation on transparent polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic fragments in the Southwest Crimea coastal waters of the Black Sea were investigated. Biofilms were identified in the transient light as 'dark spots' on the plastic surface, for which the numbers, size, and area were measured using specialized software. The rate of biofouling in the surface water layer was lower than those found in the middle and near-bottom water column, which could be due to a damaging effect of turbulent mixing on the biofilm. The highest rates of biofouling and diverse community were observed during the summer. The epibiotic assembly was represented by diatoms (11 taxa), dinoflagellates (3 taxa), green algae, filamentous cyanobacteria, small flagellates, and ciliates. Significant differences between the biofouling rates observed in different seasons made it difficult to estimate the period of time the plastic substrate has been in the marine environment. It was proposed to use the green alga Phycopeltis arundinacea (Montgn) De Tender et al., 2015 as a bioindicator to study the age of the biofouling community. Discoid thalli were identified at all stages of colonization of the plastic fragments in different seasons. Results obtained in this study demonstrate that biofouling organisms may be good model organisms in revealing age of biofilm formation and longevity of plastic debris in the ocean. Consequently, it is proposed that such biofouling organisms could be used as target species to monitor the biodegradation of plastic debris., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)
- Published
- 2023
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
41. Detection and assessment of marine litter in an uninhabited island, Arabian Gulf: A case study with conventional and machine learning approaches.
- Author
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Veerasingam S, Chatting M, Asim FS, Al-Khayat J, and Vethamony P
- Subjects
- Environmental Monitoring, Machine Learning, Waste Products analysis, Bathing Beaches, Plastics
- Abstract
In 2018, the Ministry of Municipality and Environment, Qatar removed 90 t of marine litter (ML) from the Ras Rakan Island (RRI), a remote uninhabited island in the Arabian Gulf (hereinafter referred to as Gulf). To identify the sources of ML and understand the post-cleaning ML accumulation rate, a ML survey was conducted around RRI in 2019. A total of 1341 ML items were found around RRI with an average abundance of 3.4 items/m
2 . In addition, a machine learning approach was applied to extract the quantity and types of ML from 10,400 images from the sampling sites (beaches) to make the ML clean-up process and monitoring effort more efficient. The image coordinates of ML objects were used to train an object detection algorithm 'You Only Look Once (YOLO-v5)' to automatically detect ML from video data. An image enhancement technique was performed to improve the quality of unclear images. The best performing YOLO-v5 model had 90% of mean Average Precision (mAP) while maintaining near real-time processing speeds at 2 ms/image. The abundance of ML around RRI was higher than that found on the coast of mainland Qatar. 61.5% of the sampling locations are considered as 'extremely dirty' based on Clean Coast Index. Windward beaches had higher ML concentrations (derived from neighbouring countries) than the leeward beaches. Like RRI, most of the uninhabited islands in the Arabian Gulf are home to many seabirds and sea turtles, and could act as major sinks for ML deposition. Therefore, implementation of this machine learning technique to all islands allows estimating and mitigating the load of ML for achieving a sustaining and a cleaner ocean., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)- Published
- 2022
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42. Seasonal variation, polymer hazard risk and controlling factors of microplastics in beach sediments along the southeast coast of India.
- Author
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Ranjani M, Veerasingam S, Venkatachalapathy R, Jinoj TPS, Guganathan L, Mugilarasan M, and Vethamony P
- Subjects
- Environmental Monitoring, Geologic Sediments, Humans, India, Plastics, Polymers, Seasons, Microplastics, Water Pollutants, Chemical analysis
- Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) and its associated organic and inorganic contaminants are one among the significant health hazards to almost all biota, including human. We investigated the polymer hazard risk and its adsorbed contaminants in MPs at six prominent beaches of Chennai on the southeast coast of India. The spatial variation of MPs during the northeast (NE) monsoon (range: 76-720 items/kg, mean: 247.4 items/kg) was higher than that during southwest (SW) monsoon (range: 84-498 items/kg, mean: 302.7 items/kg). In both the seasons, polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) were the dominant polymers and fibre was the predominant shape of MPs, likely to be derived from fishing, textile and urban activities in this region. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) images exhibited various surface weathering features including grooves, cracks, fractures, adhering particles, pits, vermiculate textures and fibre reinforcements. Energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer (EDS) results showed that MPs have adsorbed major (Si, Al, Na, Mg, Ca, Fe and Ti) and trace (Cu, Cr, Ni, Pb and Zn) metals. Though pollution load index (PLI) presented low degree of MP contamination in the beach sediments, hazardous polymers such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyamide (PA) and polystyrene (PS) contributed to high polymer hazard index (PHI) and potential ecological risk index (PERI), posing very high risk to the biota. The trajectories obtained from particle-tracking coupled with hydrodynamic simulation clearly showed that 20% of MPs settled along the coast and the remaining moved towards north, alongshore and offshore (∼50 km) within 30 days, and in NE monsoon due to current reversal, the floating debris and MPs have drifted towards south, ∼40 km in 30 days, indicating the role of circulation in the fate and transport pathways of plastic debris., (Copyright © 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)
- Published
- 2022
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43. Hitchhiking of encrusting organisms on floating marine debris along the west coast of Qatar, Arabian/Persian Gulf.
- Author
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Al-Khayat JA, Veerasingam S, Aboobacker VM, and Vethamony P
- Subjects
- Animals, Biodiversity, Humans, Indian Ocean, Qatar, Ecosystem, Thoracica
- Abstract
The floating marine debris (FMD) and the associated rafting communities are one of the major stressors to ecosystem services, global biodiversity and economy and human health. In this study, assemblages of encrusting organisms on different types of stranded FMD along the west coast of Qatar, Arabian/Persian Gulf (hereafter referred to as 'Gulf') were examined. The analysis showed 18 fouling species belonging to 5 phyla (Annelida, Anthropoda, Bryozoa, Mollusca and Porifera) on the FMD. The most abundant fouling species were the encrusting Amphibalanus amphitrite, polychaete Spirobranchus kraussii, Bryozoan species and Megabalanus coccopoma. More number of taxa were found on larger size FMD than on smaller FMD. Some of the barnacle rafting types were found to be non-indigenous species. The central and northwest parts of the Qatar had more FMD and fouled species than in other locations. Winds and the prevailing hydrodynamic conditions (waves and currents) played an important role in the transportation and distribution of FMD and associated organisms along the west coast of Qatar. The present study confirmed that huge amount of bio-fouled FMD items, causing great damage to biodiversity, drift in the surface layer of ocean and eventually strand onto the beaches. We propose a simple, but an effective management plan for FMD and associated organisms at regional scale to restore the biodiversity, sustainability and health of the marine ecosystem in the Gulf., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2021 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)
- Published
- 2021
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44. Factors influencing the vertical distribution of microplastics in the beach sediments around the Ras Rakan Island, Qatar.
- Author
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Veerasingam S, Vethamony P, Aboobacker VM, Giraldes AE, Dib S, and Al-Khayat JA
- Subjects
- Environmental Monitoring, Geologic Sediments, Plastics, Qatar, Microplastics, Water Pollutants, Chemical analysis
- Abstract
Microplastic (MP) pollution is an emerging environmental problem, particularly in the marine environment, and nations are concerned about this issue. In this study, an attempt has been made to investigate the vertical distribution of MPs present in the beach sediments around the Ras Rakan Island of Qatar. Sampling was conducted at 9 locations, vertically to a depth of 30 cm with an interval of 5 cm. Attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy was used to chemically identify the subsets of MPs as polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polyamide (PA), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and polystyrene (EPS). The counts of MPs were found to be higher in the western and northern parts of the island. The vertical distribution of MPs ranged from 0 to 665 particles/kilogram with maximum abundance at the surface layer (0-5 cm). Pellets were the dominant type of MPs in the surface sediments, whereas fibers were dominant in the bottom sediments. The prevailing winds, waves, tides, and currents are the forces responsible for the distribution and transport of MPs from offshore to the island and further to vertical re-distribution as time progresses. The level of MP pollution along the coast of Ras Rakan Island was higher than that found on the coast of mainland Qatar. Thus, informing that remote islands should also be considered for MP pollution monitoring programs to assess the risk associated with MP on the biota., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH, DE part of Springer Nature.)
- Published
- 2021
- Full Text
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45. Investigations of plastic contamination of seawater, marine and coastal sediments in the Russian seas: a review.
- Author
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Bagaev A, Esiukova E, Litvinyuk D, Chubarenko I, Veerasingam S, Venkatachalapathy R, and Verzhevskaya L
- Abstract
Twelve seas with an integral coastline length of about 38,000 km wash upon the Russian coasts. They belong to the basins of the Atlantic, the Arctic, and the Pacific Oceans and stretch over temperate, subpolar, and polar climate zones. This review of 32 studies published between 2015 and August 2020 analyses the available peer-reviewed scientific publications related to the topic of plastic contamination. At present, plastic contamination of the marine environments is confirmed by field investigations in 7 out of 12 Russian seas. Pollution levels vary widely: from 0.6 to 336,000 items/m
3 for microplastics in water and from 1.3 to 10,179 items/kg (DW)-in sediments, while median macroplastics abundance is around 1.0 item/m2 at the coast. One monitoring survey of the Barents Sea reported mean macroplastics concentration in the upper 60 m as 0.011 mg/m3 and 2.9 kg/km2 at the sea floor. The identification of the polymer types with spectroscopy techniques is performed only in 9 studies (28%); most researchers use visual identification which makes the results difficult to compare. Most projects aimed at the plastic contamination research use their own collection and extraction methods that poorly agree with other studies. Since the pollution levels in most of the areas are relatively low, sampling is inhomogeneous in space and time. The most extensively studied areas are the beaches of the Baltic Sea, while the least examined is the Arctic region. Our study highlights the need for a discussion on harmonizing sampling methodology and identification techniques among different studies.- Published
- 2021
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46. WorldView-3 mapping of Tarmat deposits of the Ras Rakan Island, Northern Coast of Qatar: Environmental perspective.
- Author
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Rajendran S, Al-Khayat JA, Veerasingam S, Nasir S, Vethamony P, Sadooni FN, and Al-Kuwari HA
- Subjects
- Islands, Qatar, Water, Models, Theoretical, Soil
- Abstract
This study characterizes the spectral behavior of tarmats and maps the tarmat deposits found along the coast of Ras Rakan Island off Qatar using WorldView-3 (WV-3) sensor data. The laboratory spectra of tar materials showed diagnostic absorptions features at 0.6 and 1.1 μm in the visible and near-infrared (VNIR) and 1.52, 1.73, 2.04, and 2.31 μm in the short wave infrared (SWIR) region. The panchromatic grayscale image and FCC showed the tarmat deposit as a linear warp feature between beach and water. The mapping of deposits using WV-3 data by decorrelation stretch and Linear Spectral Unmixing (LSU) methods discriminated the tarmats from the sandy soil, vegetation and sabkha features in a different tone. The capability of WV-3 sensor and the potential of image processing methods were verified by mapping the tar distribution of the Ras Ushayriq and NE of Al Ruwais., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)
- Published
- 2021
- Full Text
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47. Assessment of potential ecological risk of microplastics in the coastal sediments of India: A meta-analysis.
- Author
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Ranjani M, Veerasingam S, Venkatachalapathy R, Mugilarasan M, Bagaev A, Mukhanov V, and Vethamony P
- Subjects
- Cities, Environmental Monitoring, Geologic Sediments, India, Plastics, Risk Assessment, Microplastics, Water Pollutants, Chemical analysis
- Abstract
Abundance, chemical composition and ecological risk of microplastics (MPs) in terrestrial and marine environments have merited substantial attention from the research communities. This is the first attempt to comprehend the ecological risk of MPs in sediments along the Indian coast using meta-data. Polymer hazard index (PHI), pollution load index (PLI) and potential ecological risk index (PERI) were used to evaluate the quality of sediments. Areas have high PHI values (>1000) due to the presence of polymers with high hazard scores such as polyamide (PA) and polystyrene (PS). According to PLI values, sediments along the west coast of India (WCI) are moderately contaminated with MPs (PLI: 3.03 to 15.5), whereas sediments along the east coast of India (ECI) are less contaminated (PLI: 1 to 6.14). The PERI values of sediments along the Indian coast showed higher ecological risk for the metropolitan cities, river mouths, potential fishing zones and the remote islands., (Copyright © 2021 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)
- Published
- 2021
- Full Text
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48. Spatial distribution, structural characterization and weathering of tarmats along the west coast of Qatar.
- Author
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Veerasingam S, Al-Khayat JA, Haseeba KP, Aboobacker VM, Hamza S, and Vethamony P
- Subjects
- Environmental Monitoring, Qatar, Weather, Petroleum Pollution analysis, Water Pollutants, Chemical analysis
- Abstract
Oil pollution resulting from natural and anthropogenic activities in the Arabian Gulf as well as oil residue in the form of tarmat (TM) deposited on the coast is a major environmental concern. The spatial distribution, chemical composition and weathering pattern of tarmat along the west coast of Qatar has been assessed based on the TM samples collected from 12 coastal regions. The range of TM distribution is 0-104 g m
-1 with an average value of 9.25 g m-1 . Though the current TM level is thirty-fold lesser than that was found during 1993-1997 (average 290 g m-1 ), the distribution pattern is similar. The results of ATR-FTIR spectroscopy indicate that aromatic compounds are higher in the north (N) coast TMs than those found in the northwest (NW) and southwest (SW) coasts, and Carbonyl Index values indicate that TM of NW coast is highly weathered compared to those found in the N and SW coasts., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)- Published
- 2020
- Full Text
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49. Sources, spatial distribution and characteristics of marine litter along the west coast of Qatar.
- Author
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Veerasingam S, Al-Khayat JA, Aboobacker VM, Hamza S, and Vethamony P
- Subjects
- Bathing Beaches, Metals, Plastics, Qatar, Environmental Monitoring, Waste Products analysis
- Abstract
The spatial distribution, sources and characteristics of marine litter (ML) from 36 locations spread over 12 beaches along the west coast of Qatar have been assessed. A total of 2376 ML items with varying sizes were found with an average abundance of 1.98 items/m
2 . The order of abundance of ML along the coast was as follows: plastics (71.4%) > metal (9.3%) > glass (5.1%) > paper (4.4%) > fabric (4.0%) > rubber (3.9%) > processed wood (2.0%). Locations in the south and northwest coasts of Qatar had significantly higher concentrations of ML. Surprisingly, nearly 47% of the beached polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles were derived from the countries bordering the Arabian/Persian Gulf (Gulf), and most of them were produced in the last 2 years. The plastic materials were drifted by winds and currents to the Qatar coast. Gulf circulation provides evidence to the pathways of ML beached on the Qatar coast., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)- Published
- 2020
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50. Assessing the source of oil deposited in the surface sediment of Mormugao Port, Goa - A case study of MV Qing incident.
- Author
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Suneel V, Saha M, Rathore C, Sequeira J, Mohan PMN, Ray D, Veerasingam S, Rao VT, and Vethamony P
- Subjects
- Hydrocarbons analysis, India, Seawater chemistry, Ships, Environmental Monitoring, Geologic Sediments chemistry, Petroleum analysis, Petroleum Pollution analysis, Water Pollutants, Chemical analysis
- Abstract
In June 2016, a cruise vessel was grounded in the Mormugao Port, resulting in unnoticed oil spill. The surface water and sediment samples were collected from the vicinity of the ship, and also an oil sample from the ship (OIL). These samples were subject to petroleum biomarker such as pentacyclic triterpenes (hopanes) and compound specific carbon isotopic (δ
13 C) analyses to assess the source of hydrocarbon pollution in the Mormugao Port. While no clear trend was observed in water samples, the bottom surface sediments did show an identical pattern of hopanes with the oil. The chemometric analyses of hopane Diagnostic Ratios (DRs) and δ13 C ratios confirmed the ship oil as the source of oil pollution in sediments. Whereas the water is comparatively more dynamic than the sediment, the physical processes arising out of winds, waves, tides and currents might have dispersed the oil away from the grounded ship., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)- Published
- 2019
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
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