Heavy Metal Distribution in Surface Sediments of the Coastal Pearl Bay, South China Sea

Changping Yang; Gang Yu; Yan Liu; Binbin Shan; Liangming Wang; Dianrong Sun; Yingbang Huang

LAPSE:2023.2299

Published Article

LAPSE:2023.2299

Heavy Metal Distribution in Surface Sediments of the Coastal Pearl Bay, South China Sea

Changping Yang, Gang Yu, Yan Liu, Binbin Shan, Liangming Wang, Dianrong Sun, Yingbang Huang

February 21, 2023

Abstract
Six heavy metals (As, Cu, Cd, Zn, Cr, and Pb) in surface sediments (0−5 cm) from the twenty selected sites of the coastal Pearl Bay (South China Sea) were analyzed to assess the distribution pattern and potential ecological risk. Overall concentrations (mg/kg, dw) in the sediment samples were: As (10.88 ± 6.50), Cu (24.16 ± 18.63), Cd (0.55 ± 0.78), Zn (48.53 ± 30.06), Cr (35.78 ± 28.66), Pb (31.28 ± 18.50). Results showed that the overall mean values of Cd concentrations exceeded the standard of China Marine Sediment Quality, caused by significantly high levels of Cd contents in five sites (S8, S11, S13, S16, and S17) at the offshore area of Pearl Bay. Generally, the metal concentrations showed a decreasing trend from the offshore area to the inner bay. Various index values such as the geo-accumulation index (Igeo), the ecological risk index (Eri), and the contamination factor (CF) demonstrated that the coastal Pearl Bay was not polluted by the examined metals except for Cd, which might cause contamination and ecological risk in the region. Principal component analysis (PCA) results indicated that Cu, Zn, and Cr might originate from natural sources inland, and Pb and As might come from the gasoline and diesel fuel from engine boats. It is recommended that further research should focus on detecting the acute source and transferring mechanisms of the toxic metal Cd.

Record ID

LAPSE:2023.2299

Keywords

ecological risk assessment, heavy metals, Pearl Bay, surface sediment

Subject

Numerical Methods and Statistics

Suggested Citation

Yang C, Yu G, Liu Y, Shan B, Wang L, Sun D, Huang Y. Heavy Metal Distribution in Surface Sediments of the Coastal Pearl Bay, South China Sea. (2023). LAPSE:2023.2299

Author Affiliations

Yang C: Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Healthy and Safe Aquaculture, School of Life Science, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510631, China; Key Laboratory of Marine Ranching, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, South China Sea Fisheries R
Yu G: Key Laboratory of Marine Ranching, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, South China Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fisheries Sciences, Guangzhou 510300, China
Liu Y: Key Laboratory of Marine Ranching, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, South China Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fisheries Sciences, Guangzhou 510300, China
Shan B: Key Laboratory of Marine Ranching, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, South China Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fisheries Sciences, Guangzhou 510300, China
Wang L: Key Laboratory of Marine Ranching, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, South China Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fisheries Sciences, Guangzhou 510300, China
Sun D: Key Laboratory of Marine Ranching, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, South China Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fisheries Sciences, Guangzhou 510300, China
Huang Y: Key Laboratory of Marine Ranching, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, South China Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fisheries Sciences, Guangzhou 510300, China

Journal Name

Processes

Volume

10

Issue

5

First Page

822

Year

2022

Publication Date

2022-04-21