Occurrence, partition, and risk of four adjacent transition metals in seawater, sediments and demersal fish from the Pearl River Estuary, South China Sea

The spatio-seasonal variation, bioaccumulation and potential ecological risk of four metals (Co, Ni, Cu and Zn) in the multi-media of the Pearl River Estuary (PRE) were assessed. The degree of contamination and ecological risk of the four metals followed this pattern: Cu > Zn > Ni > Co, upstream > downstream, wet season > dry season. There were non-linear and linear correlations for Co, linear and non-linear correlations for Ni, and non-linear and no correlation for both Cu and Zn, between metals in bottom water or bioavailable concentrations in sediment and fish muscle. Co and Ni showed lightly polluted levels; Cu and Zn showed heavily polluted levels. This study demonstrates a tendency of cross-accumulation in fish of these four transition metals within specific habitats of the PRE.

Automated summary

The spatio-seasonal variation, bioaccumulation, and potential ecological risk of four metals (Co, Ni, Cu, and Zn) in the multi-media of the Pearl River Estuary (PRE) were assessed. The contamination and ecological risk followed the pattern: Cu > Zn > Ni > Co, upstream > downstream, wet season > dry season. The study found cross-accumulation of these four transition metals in fish within specific habitats of the PRE.