title: Assessment of metal contamination in surface sediments from Zhelin Bay, the South China Sea.
abstract: Metals and biogenic elements were analyzed from surface sediments collected from Zhelin Bay in the South China Sea in December 2008. The high concentrations of TOC, TN and BSi indicate the high nutrient level and diatom productivity in Zhelin Bay. The concentrations of metals were generally far lower than the effects-range-low (ERL) values that define pollutant levels. Enrichment factors (EF) and geoaccumulation indices (Igeo) suggest there are pollution levels of Cd, Cu and Zn at some stations. As, Cu, and Pb are potentially biotoxic in some stations. Correlation and principal component analyses indicate that most of the metals primarily originate from natural sources, and from maricultural activities as well. Mariculture contributes considerable Cd and Cu contamination. As and Pb comes primarily from combustion of gasoline and diesel fuel by ships.
authors.affiliation: College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China; Key Laboratory of Eutrophication and Red Tide Prevention of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China. Electronic address: twzh@jnu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Zhao-Hui
authors.initials: ZH
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Yang-Guang
authors.initials: YG
authors.lastname: Gu
mesh_terms: D061006:Bays; D002681:China; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry*; D008670:Metals / Q000032:analysis*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*; D014877:Water Pollution, Chemical
chemical_list: D008670:Metals; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
keywords: Biogenic elements; Heavy metals; Marine sediments; Sediment quality criteria; South China Sea