https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1872203216300816

 Our team assessed 16 physicochemical parameters across 18 sites, from industrial runoff zones to oil-spill-affected creeks.

The results were alarming:  

Key Findings
1. Pollution Hotspots:  
   - COD levels 4–24× higher than safe limits due to sewage and agricultural runoff.  
   - Oil & grease contamination (0.36–1.68 mg/L) from spills, coating roots and suffocating marine life.  
   - Extreme water hardness (6,250 mg/L, 12× seawater norms) from Ca²⁺/Mg²⁺ overload, threatening mangrove physiology.  

2. GIS to the Rescue:  
   - Inverse Distance Weighted (IDW) mapping  revealed pollution gradients .  

- Suitability maps  classified areas into:  
     - Class 1–2: Urgent protection needed (near industrial zones).  
     - Class 3–4: Ideal for replanting nRhizophora mucronata  with community support.  
     - Class 5–6: "Red zones" requiring immediate mitigation.  

3. The Human Cost:  
   - Lateritic soils forced farmers to overuse fertilizers, poisoning waterways with NO₃⁻/PO₄³⁻.  
   - Coastal urbanization doubled salinity (66.82 ppt vs. 19 ppt in healthy mangroves).  

Why This Matters
Mangroves are Earth’s carbon sinks and coastal shields, yet 50% have vanished in India. Our study proved GIS-based monitoring could guide targeted restoration—but it also exposed a harsh truth: without curbing industrial discharges and agricultural runoff, even the hardiest Avicennia  stands little chance.  

A Call to Action
To fellow researchers:  
- How can we scale GIS tools for real-time mangrove pollution tracking?  
- Could  phytoremediation hybrids (e.g., salt-tolerant Bruguiera cylindrica) combat metal toxicity?  

Explore the Data:  
- [Full paper](DOI: 10.1016/j.chnaes.2017.06.017)