Geochemical Assessment and Spatial Analysis of Heavy Metals in the Surface Sediments in the Eastern Beibu Gulf

A Reflection on the Industrial Development of the South China Coast

Bibliographic Data

ID15512205
AuthorsFajin Chen (0000-0002-5775-911X, Guangdong Ocean University), Jing Lin (0000-0003-4854-6769, Xiamen University), Bihua Qian (Quanzhou Normal University), Zhai Wu (0000-0002-5801-8399, Xiamen University), Peng Huang (0000-0001-5614-786X, Xiamen University), Kai Chen (0000-0002-0891-3408, Xiamen University), Tianyao Li (0000-0002-0043-8083, Xiamen University), Minggang Cai (0000-0003-2828-0529, Xiamen University, corresponding author)
Year2018
Volume15
Issue3
Pages496-496
Publication date2018-03-12
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1661-7827 • E-ISSN: 1660-4601
PublisherMultidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3390/ijerph15030496
PMID29534527
OpenAlexW2790132186
LanguageEN
Citations received5

The Beibu Gulf (also named the Gulf of Tonkin), located in the northwest of the South China Sea, is representative of a bay suffering from turbulence and contamination associated with rapid industrialization and urbanization. In this study, we aim to provide the novel baseline levels of heavy metals for the research area. Concentrations of five heavy metals (i.e., Cu, Pb, Zn, Cd and Cr) were determined in surface sediments from 35 sites in the eastern Beibu Gulf. The heavy metal content varied from 6.72 to 25.95 mg/kg for Cu, 16.99 to 57.98 mg/kg for Pb, 73.15 to 112.25 mg/kg for Zn, 0.03 to 0.12 mg/kg for Cd, and 20.69 to 56.47 mg/kg for Cr, respectively. With respect to the Chinese sediment quality criteria, sediments in the eastern Beibu Gulf have not been significantly affected by coastal metal pollutions. The results deduced from the geoaccumulation index (I geo ) showed that the study area has been slightly polluted by Pb, which might be caused by non-point sources. Relatively high concentrations of Cu, Pb and Cd were found around the coastal areas of Guangxi province, the Leizhou Peninsula and the northwest coast of Hainan Island, whereas the highest concentrations of Zn and Cr were found on the northwest coast of Hainan Island. Spatial distribution patterns of the heavy metals showed that bioavailable fractions of Pb were higher than in the residual fractions, while Cu and Cd concentrations in exchangeable and carbonate fractions were relatively higher than those in the bioavailable fractions. Hierarchical clustering analysis suggested that the sampling stations could be separated into three groups with different geographical distributions. Accompanying their similar spatial distribution in the study area, significant correlation coefficients among Cu, Cd and Pb were also found, indicating that these three metals might have had similar sources. Overall, the results indicated that the distribution of these heavy metals in the surface sediments collected from the Beibu Gulf was complex

Bay · Biology · Contamination · Geomorphology · Heavy metals · Sediment · Chemistry · Environmental Science · Geochemistry and Elemental Analysis · Geochemistry and Geologic Mapping · Heavy metals in environment · Ecology · Environmental Chemistry · Geology · Oceanography

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