Vertical distributions and risk assessment of phosphorus in core sediments from the Can Gio coastal district in southern Vietnam

Abstract

In this study, total phosphorus (P) and P released forms were measured in core sediments from the areas affected by human settlement and shrimp farming activities and the core zone of the Can Gio Biosphere Reserve, a coastal district in south Vietnam. Furthermore, ecological risk assessment and parameters controlling P release from sediments were investigated, including pH, major elements (Al-Ca-Mg-Fe), and fine fraction. The average total amount of P in the sediments varied from 287 to 669 mg/kg, with significantly lower values being observed in the mangrove biosphere reserve area. According to the results of the correlation analysis, organic matter was the primary source of P in the sediments, but the majority of the P released was inorganic. Positive correlations were found between Fe and non-apatite inorganic P (NAIP) and apatite P (AP), as well as intercorrelations between P fractions (r = 0.40-0.79, p < 0.05), suggesting that Fe might be the controlling factor of P release in the investigated sediments. The rank orders of concentrations of P forms were significantly different between the areas. The range of P forms was AP (35-248 mg/kg) > NAIP (63-201 mg/kg) > LP (labile P) (4-25 mg/kg) in the human settlement and aquaculture areas and NAIP (84-99 mg/kg) > AP (20-38 mg/kg) > LP (7-12 mg/kg) in the mangrove biosphere reserve area. Risk assessment based on the total concentration of P and the availability of P from a single extraction suggested a relatively low risk of P from sediment as an internal load in the studied areas.

Keywords: Can Gio; Mangrove forest; Phosphorus fraction; Potential release; Risk assessment; Vietnam.