Distribution and pollution assessment of heavy metals in surface sediments in the Yellow Sea.
Heavy metal concentrations in surface sediments at 56 stations during two cruises in the Yellow Sea in summer and winter, 2011 were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. The pollution status was assessed via the Geoaccumulation index and Hankanson potential ecological risk index. Higher concentrations of heavy metals (except for Mn) were found in the central Southern Yellow Sea and the western Northern Yellow Sea. The higher contents of Mn were much closer to Shandong Peninsula. Correlation analyses indicated that Pb, Cu, Fe, Ni, Zn and Co probably had the same origin and were controlled by grain size and total organic carbon. Pollution assessment showed that most areas of the Yellow Sea were not or lowly contaminated with the exception of the northwest and south parts of the Southern Yellow Sea showing Cd-contamination. The pollution status of the Yellow Sea in summer was worse than that in winter.
College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, PR China; Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510301, PR China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, PR China.
Xin
X
Jiang
Department of Biology and Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
Ankang
A
Teng
Department of Biology and Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
Wenzhe
W
Xu
College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, PR China. Electronic address: liuxs@ouc.edu.cn.
Xiaoshou
X
Liu
D002681:China; D004463:Ecology; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis*; D009792:Oceans and Seas; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*; D014876:Water Pollution / Q000032:analysis*
D019216:Metals, Heavy; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
Heavy metals; Pollution assessment; Sediment; Spatial distribution; Yellow Sea