Journal
ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT
Volume 185, Issue 6, Pages 5071-5083Publisher
SPRINGER
DOI: 10.1007/s10661-012-2926-0
Keywords
Heavy metals; Sediment contamination; Environmental assessment; Sediment quality guidelines; Liaodong Bay
Categories
Funding
- Ministry of Land and Resources [1212011088110]
- National Natural Science Foundation of China [40976036, 40906033, 41206049]
- Open Foundation of the State Key Laboratory of Loess and Quaternary Geology [SKLLQG1107]
- Open Foundation of the Key Laboratory of Marine Hydrocarbon Resources and Environmental Geology [MRE201231]
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In an effort to assess the potential contamination and determine the environmental risks associated with heavy metals, the surface sediments in Liaodong Bay, northeast China, were systematically sampled and analyzed for the concentrations of Cu, Pb, Zn, Cr, Ni, As, and Hg. The metal enrichment factor (EF) and geoaccumulation index (I (geo)) were calculated to assess the anthropogenic contamination in the region. Results showed that heavy metal concentrations in the sediments generally met the criteria of China Marine Sediment Quality (GB18668-2002); however, both EF and I (geo) values suggested the elevation of Pb concentration in the region. Based on the effect-range classification (TEL-PEL SQGs), Cu, Pb, Ni, and As were likely to pose environment risks, and the toxic units decreased in the order: Ni > Pb > Cr > Zn > As > Cu > Hg. The spatial distribution of ecotoxicological index (mean-ERM-quotient) suggested that most of the surface sediments were low-medium priority zone. Multivariate analysis indicated that the sources of Cr, Ni, Zn, Cu, and Hg resulted primarily from parent rocks, and Pb or As were mainly attributed to anthropogenic sources. The results of this study would provide a useful aid for sustainable marine management in the region.
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