STUDY OF HEAVY METAL POLLUTION IN MANGROVE SEDIMENTS REFERENCE TO MARINE ENVIRONMENT ALONG THE COASTAL AREAS OF PAKISTAN

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to measure the concentration of heavy metals (Cd, Co, Pb, Cr, Zn, Cu & Fe) in Mangrove sediments. The concentrations of heavy metals (Cd, Co, Pb, Cr, Zn, Cu & Fe) were measured in different samples of in different Mangroves sediments along the coastal areas of Pakistan and was found that concentration of heavy metals in the Mangrove sediments near to Lyari and Malir river discharge points are at much higher level than the Mangrove sediments of Port Qasim area which are not according to WHO standard and are very are very serious health hazardous. In addition to point sources, possible reasons of non point sources were also discussed.