Distribution and pollution risk assessment of heavy metals in the surface sediment of the intertidal zones of the Yellow River Estuary, China

Zhe Wang; Kuixuan Lin; Xiaoshou Liu

doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.113286

Distribution and pollution risk assessment of heavy metals in the surface sediment of the intertidal zones of the Yellow River Estuary, China

Mar Pollut Bull. 2022 Jan:174:113286. doi: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.113286. Epub 2022 Jan 15.

Authors

Zhe Wang¹, Kuixuan Lin², Xiaoshou Liu³

Affiliations

¹ College of Marine Life Sciences, Frontiers Science Center for Deep Ocean Multispheres and Earth System, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China; Institute of Evolution and Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China.
² State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Environment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China. Electronic address: linkx@craes.org.cn.
³ College of Marine Life Sciences, Frontiers Science Center for Deep Ocean Multispheres and Earth System, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China; Institute of Evolution and Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China. Electronic address: liuxs@ouc.edu.cn.

PMID: 35090273
DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.113286

Abstract

Eleven heavy metals (V, Cr, Mn, Co, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Cd, and Pb) in surface sediment in the intertidal zones of the Yellow River Estuary, China were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry in summer and autumn 2019. Results indicated that the 11 heavy metals had the same sources. Sediment particle size and total organic matter were the main factors influencing the distribution of heavy metals. Most sites in the intertidal zones of the study area were not contaminated with V, Cr, Fe, Co, Zn, Pb, Cu, As, Mn and Ni, while Cd was the priority pollutant. Heavy metal pollution risk in autumn was higher than that in summer, which may be due to hydrodynamic effects. The present study showed that the heavy metal concentrations in the study area had a temporal decreasing trend compared to previous studies, which may be due to the reduction in human activities.

Keywords: Enrichment factor; Geoaccumulation index; Hakanson potential ecological risk index; Heavy metals; Pollution risk assessment; Yellow River Estuary.

MeSH terms

Environmental Monitoring
Estuaries
Geologic Sediments
Humans
Metals, Heavy* / analysis
Risk Assessment
Rivers
Water Pollutants, Chemical* / analysis

Substances

Metals, Heavy
Water Pollutants, Chemical