Evaluation of Trace Metal Concentrations in Tuticorin Coastal Water near Thermal Power Plant

Water is the most important chemical compound for the perpetuation of life on this planet. Owing to the rapid industrialization on one side and exploding population on the other, seawater gets polluted. Seawater pollutant is a chemical substance present in it at the excessive levels capable of causing harm to living organisms. The Tuticorin Thermal Power station (TTPS) utilized 18, 000 tons/day of coal and contributed an important pollutant of fly ash. TTPS discharged effluent caused ecological perturbation depletion of oxygen and showed poor species diversity. A study was conducted to investigate the impact of fly ash dumpsite of Tuticorin coastal area from thermal power plant. Water samples were collected from three different stations fixed in and around 5 km of ash dumpsite of power plant in monthly intervals during the year of July 2014 to June 2015. Trace elements of Fe, Cu, Pb and Cd were found high in ash dumpsite. The results of the present study recommended the proper steps to be taken to prevent and minimize the adverse environmental impacts include aggressive marketing to promote industrial use of ash.