title: Spatial distribution and ecotoxicological risk assessment of heavy metals in surface sediments of the southern Bohai Bay, China.
abstract: The concentrations of heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn) and organic carbon in surface sediments, collected from the southern Bohai Bay, were determined to assess the potential contamination and determine the environmental risks associated with heavy metals. Results showed that heavy metal concentrations in the sediments generally met the China Marine Sediment Quality criteria. Both the ecotoxicological index and the potential ecological risk index suggest that the combined ecological risk of the six studied metals may be low, with the highest ecotoxicological potential zones located in the offshore area. The methods of enrichment factor and geoaccumulation index suggested that elevated concentrations of Cd, Cr, and Ni are presented in the region. Multivariate analysis also indicated that the lithogenic factor dominates the distribution of most part of the considered metals in the study area, whereas Cd and Cr are clearly influenced by anthropogenic inputs. The results of this study are likely to be a useful tool to authorities in charge of sustainable marine management.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Marine Hydrocarbon Resources and Environmental Geology, Qingdao Institute of Marine Geology, Ministry of Land and Resources, Qingdao, 266071, China.
authors.forename: Bangqi
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Guogang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Jianqiang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bi
authors.forename: Jingtao
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Ruyuan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bu
mesh_terms: D061006:Bays / Q000737:chemistry*; D002681:China; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D054750:Ecotoxicology; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000032:analysis*; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis*; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D025341:Principal Component Analysis; D018570:Risk Assessment; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D019216:Metals, Heavy; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical