Speciation of Metals and Assessment of Contamination in Surface Sediments from Daya Bay, South China Sea

Jie Yang, Linglong Cao, Jianhua Wang, Chunlian Liu, Chuguang Huang, Weixu Cai, Hongda Fang and Xiaojuan Peng
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Jie Yang: School of Earth Sciences and Engineering Geology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Geological Processes and Mineral Resource Exploration, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
Linglong Cao: School of Earth Sciences and Engineering Geology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Geological Processes and Mineral Resource Exploration, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
Jianhua Wang: School of Earth Sciences and Engineering Geology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Geological Processes and Mineral Resource Exploration, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
Chunlian Liu: School of Earth Sciences and Engineering Geology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Geological Processes and Mineral Resource Exploration, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
Chuguang Huang: South China Sea Marine Environment Monitoring Center, State Oceanic Administration People's Republic of China, Guangzhou 510915, China
Weixu Cai: South China Sea Marine Environment Monitoring Center, State Oceanic Administration People's Republic of China, Guangzhou 510915, China
Hongda Fang: South China Sea Marine Environment Monitoring Center, State Oceanic Administration People's Republic of China, Guangzhou 510915, China
Xiaojuan Peng: South China Sea Marine Environment Monitoring Center, State Oceanic Administration People's Republic of China, Guangzhou 510915, China

Sustainability, 2014, vol. 6, issue 12, 1-18

Abstract: The contents, speciation, source factors and potential ecological risks of the selected metals (Cr, Ni, Cu, Pb, Zn, Cd and As) were analyzed in surface sediments from Daya Bay (DYB). The results show that, with the exception of Pb, metal concentrations have decreased at all sites over the past decade. The distribution features of these concentrations represent a ring shape that descends from shore to bay by varying degrees. Speciation analysis showed that Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn and As exist mainly in the residual fraction and, thus, are of low bioavailability, while Cd and Pb were found to be abundant in the non-residual fraction and, thus, have high potential mobility. The ratio of heavy metals in non-residual form in descending order is Pb (78.83%), Cd (78.65%), Cu (48.54%), Zn (48.10%), Ni (38.31%), Cr (28.43%) and As (27.76%). The ratio of Pb content is the highest, meaning the highest mobility of Pb. The metals’ potential ecological risks to the environment were also assessed using the methods of the mean effect range-median quotient and the criteria of risk assessment code. The results showed that Cd presents the highest risk, and Pb and Cu are generally considered to be medium risks in the sub-basins of Daya Bay. The principal component analysis (PCA) revealed that natural coastal weathering and erosion of rock caused the highest input, followed by mariculture and industrial wastewater and, finally, domestic sewage discharge.

Keywords: heavy metal; speciation; source analysis; risk assessment; environmental conservation; Daya Bay (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2014
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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