An Assessment of Selected Metals in Puthurpadam Wetland Area, Malappuram District, Kerala, Southern India

Abstract

Wetlands are amongst the most productive ecosystems on the Earth that provides many important services to human society. They are biologically beneficial habitats that act as a transition zone between land and water. However, they are also ecologically sensitive and adaptive systems. The present study is conducted in a wetland area of Puthurpadam, Malappurram at three different locations, in order to monitor the status of metal contamination in the study area. The three sites consist of a stream, paddy field, and a pond which represent significant forms, particularly in agricultural and rural settings. The study was conducted from October 2024 to March 2025. The water and soil samples were collected from all the three sites during the morning hours and plant sample was collected from the paddy field (one sample per month) during the study period due to the absence of water at the time of cultivation. Water quality analysis was done for all the three sites, metal contamination detection was conducted by using ICP-MS (Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry) method for all the water, soil and plant samples taken. Site-specific elemental distribution, Water-soil comparative analysis and Integrated contamination assessment were also recorded. The presence of lead was higher than the desired values in all the three sites respectively (0.094, 0.061, 0.07) and nickel at site 3(0.032) water samples. The boron shows remarkably higher values in the soil samples of all the three sites respectively (22.738, 20.896, 20.257) while Magnesium (10.71), Calcium (0.5202) and Chromium (0.0914) has shown slightly higher values in plant samples than the limits at site 2 in mg/L. In the present study, the maximum metal pollution was observed during the advent of summer season that is in the month of March. A comprehensive strategy for regular long-term monitoring of water quality of such wetlands should further be evolved into effective conservation and management programmes, bringing community participation to the forefront.