title: Heavy metals in surface sediments from nine estuaries along the coast of Bohai Bay, Northern China.
abstract: Concentrations of heavy metals in river water and sediment were investigated in nine estuaries along the coast of Bohai Bay, Northern China. Multivariate statistical techniques such as principal component analysis and cluster analysis, in combination with metal concentration analysis and correlation analysis, were used to identify the possible sources of the metals and the pollution pattern in nine estuaries along the coast of Bohai Bay. The environmental risks of metals, evaluated by sediment quality guidelines and background values, revealed Hg contamination in the estuaries. However, levels of Cd in estuarine sediments were low, and they were less than those levels in river sediments, partly due to the high mobility and dilution of river or seawater. Cd did not contribute to sediment deposits in estuaries. High organic matter from effluents from large municipal sewage treatment plants was predominantly responsible for restricting Hg mobility from the river to Bohai Bay.
authors.affiliation: Tianjin Key Laboratory of Water Resources and Environment, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin 300387, China. Electronic address: wuguanghong@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Guanghong
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin 300387, China.
authors.forename: Jingmin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shang
authors.affiliation: College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin 300387, China.
authors.forename: Ling
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.affiliation: Tianjin Key Laboratory of Water Resources and Environment, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin 300387, China.
authors.forename: Zhongliang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D061006:Bays / Q000737:chemistry*; D002681:China; D063366:Estuaries; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry*; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis*; D045483:Rivers / Q000737:chemistry; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D019216:Metals, Heavy; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
keywords: Bohai Bay; Estuary; Heavy metals; Multivariate analysis; Sediment; Sewage