Assessment of pollution index based on physico chemical parameters of coastal waters along veraval coast, Gujarat

Abstract

The present study was conducted on the assessment of pollution index based on physico-chemical parameters of coastal waters along Veraval, Gujarat. Coastal water samples from three distinct stations along from the Veraval coast were collected on monthly basis. The study was carried out from October-2023 to March-2024. Total fourteen physico-chemical parameters were assessed. The findings indicate that the physico-chemical parameters such as temperature, pH salinity, electric conductivity (EC) and dissolved oxygen (DO) were meeting the coastal water standards. However, parameters such as turbidity, biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), total suspended solids (TSS), total dissolved solids (TDS), total solids (TS), nitrate (NO3), nitrite (NO2), phosphorus and hydrogen sulphide (H2S) were exceeding their coastal water quality standard. The results of the physico-chemical parameter analysis were compared with the standards of sea water quality for marine biota. In Veraval, pollution index was generally higher for temperature (1.0028), pH (1.1049), salinity (1.0539), turbidity (1.184), EC (0.8529), DO (1.0989), BOD (1.654), TSS (1.9924), TDS (1.141), TS (1.1425), NO3 (2.4350), NO2 (1.4265), phosphorus (3.791), and H2S (4.7274). The pollution index for each parameter were calculate and based on that the result of Overall index of pollution (OIP) was found 1.7577 at Veraval coast. Veraval coast was found to be in acceptable limit (Class C2) based on the Overall Pollution Index categories. This benchmark will evaluate the intensity of pollution, guiding decisions on implementing stricter regulations.