Distribution, fractionation, of heavy metals in offshore Xiamen Bay, China and contamination assessment surface sediments from western

• Published in: 中国地球化学学报：英文版 Vol. 35; no. 4; pp. 355 - 367
• Main Author: Qiuli Yang Gongren Hu Ruilian Yu Haixing He Chengqi Lin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 2016
• Subjects: 中国东南部; 原子荧光光谱法; 厦门湾; 污染评价; 电感耦合等离子体发射光谱法; 表面沉积物; 连续提取法; 重金属
• ISSN: 1000-9426; 1993-0364

Surface sediment samples were collected at 21 offshore sites in western Xiamen Bay, Southeast China. Total concentrations of Li, V, Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, St, Mn, Pb, Ba, Fe, and Ti were determined by inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry; Hg was determined by atomic fluorescence spectrometry. A modified BCR sequential extraction procedure was used to extract fractions of the above elements. Concentrations of Pb, Cr, and Hg at most sites met the primary standard criteria of Marine Sediment Quality except site S12 for Pb and S7 for Cr, while concentrations of Zn at 17 sites and Cu at seven sites exceeded the criteria. The mean concentration of Hg was three times higher than the background, with a possible source being the Jiulong River. Fe, Ti, Ba, Co, V, and Li dominated the residual phase, mainly from terrestrial input. Ni, Cr, Pb, and Hg in the non-residual phase varied largely between sites. Sr, Mn, Cu, and Zn were mainly in the non- residual fraction. Most sites showed considerable ecological risk; exceptions were site S7 （very high） and sites S10, S11, and S14 （moderate）. Cu showed moderate-to-high pollution and Pb exhibited no-to-low pollution, while other metals had a non-pollution status according to their ratios of secondary phase to primary phase （RSP）. Results of two assessment methods showed moderate pollution and a very high ecological risk for Cu, Zn, Ni, and Cr at site S7, which might be due to the local sewage treatment plant.