Occurrence and distribution of organic pollutants for the assessment of ecological health status of Mahi River Estuary, Gulf of Khambhat

• Health Status of Mahi river estuary, Gulf of Khambhat was assessed. • Water, sediment and fish samples were tested. • Organic pollutants were detected in the collected samples. • Moran's index used for the interpretation. This study assessed the occurrence and distribution of different pollutants along the estuarine stretch of the Mahi River, Gulf of Khambhat. All the parameters, including physicochemical, and organic pollutants (PAHs, PCBs, α-HBCD and BDE-28) were analyzed in sediment, water, and fish samples. These pollutants were detected in collected sediment, water, and fish samples. The ∑ PAHs and ∑ PCBs were found for sediments samples in the range of 0.060 µg/g to 1.905 µg/g and 0.161 µg/g to 0.583 µg/g, respectively. Moran's I spatial autocorrelation shows that the samples are not positively correlated for all the targeted parameters in sediment and water samples. This study underscores the presence of organic pollutants in the sediment and water of the Mahi estuary and their accumulation in the resident fish species, indicating the need for an effective strategy to safeguard the ecosystem health of the estuary and coastal zone of the Gulf of Khambhat.