title: Assessing metal toxicity in sediments using the equilibrium partitioning model and empirical sediment quality guidelines: a case study in the nearshore zone of the Bohai Sea, China.
abstract: Surface sediments were collected from five nearshore (wastewater discharges, aquaculture facilities and a seaport) sites in Bohai Bay and Laizhou Bay, China. The equilibrium partitioning (EqP) model and empirical sediment quality guidelines (SQGs) were applied to assess the potential metal toxicity in the collected sediments. The results show that, based on the EqP model, 35% of stations exhibited potential metal toxicity. Several metals (Cu, Ni and Cr) exceeded the empirical SQGs (9-93% of the time), however these guidelines may not be suitable for use in the Bohai Sea owing to the background concentrations. The EqP model is a more useful method for assessing potential metal toxicity in Bohai Sea sediment than the empirical SQGs. Additionally, we have provided new understanding about methods for assessing sediment metal toxicity in the Bohai Sea that may be useful in other coastal areas in China.
authors.affiliation: First Institute of Oceanography, State Oceanic Administration, 6 Xianxialing Road, Qingdao, Shandong 266061, PR China. Electronic address: Li.Li@fio.org.cn.
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: First Institute of Oceanography, State Oceanic Administration, 6 Xianxialing Road, Qingdao, Shandong 266061, PR China.
authors.forename: Xiaojing
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: First Institute of Oceanography, State Oceanic Administration, 6 Xianxialing Road, Qingdao, Shandong 266061, PR China.
authors.forename: Jihua
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: First Institute of Oceanography, State Oceanic Administration, 6 Xianxialing Road, Qingdao, Shandong 266061, PR China.
authors.forename: Xuefa
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.affiliation: First Institute of Oceanography, State Oceanic Administration, 6 Xianxialing Road, Qingdao, Shandong 266061, PR China.
authors.forename: Deyi
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ma
mesh_terms: D017756:Aquaculture; D061006:Bays; D002681:China; D002857:Chromium / Q000032:analysis; D003300:Copper / Q000032:analysis; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000032:analysis*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis*; D015233:Models, Statistical; D009532:Nickel / Q000032:analysis; D009792:Oceans and Seas; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D019216:Metals, Heavy; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D002857:Chromium; D003300:Copper; D009532:Nickel
keywords: Acid volatile sulfide; Bohai Sea; Equilibrium partitioning model; Metals; Sediments; Toxicity