title: Distribution of mercury in coastal marine sediments of China: sources and transport.
abstract: A total of 220 surface sediments and eight sediment cores were analyzed to study the distribution and transport of Hg in Chinese marginal seas. Spatial distribution showed a general offshore decreasing trend towards the outer continental shelf. Vertical profiles of sediment cores displayed a general increasing trend from bottom to surface layers. Coastal land-based discharges and river-derived inputs are probably the main sources of Hg in coastal sediments of China seas, while TOC, pH, ocean currents and sediment characteristics could play important roles in the transport and spatial distribution of Hg in sediment. The influence of TOC on Hg concentration is more significant than that of pH. The mud deposits on the coastal shelves are main sinks of Hg in the region. The results showed that sedimentary Hg was affected by regional anthropogenic activities and riverine runoffs, and was also influenced by long-range atmospheric transport and ocean current circulations.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China.
authors.forename: Mei
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Meng
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China. Electronic address: jbshi@rcees.ac.cn.
authors.forename: Jian-bo
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China.
authors.forename: Zhao-jun
authors.initials: ZJ
authors.lastname: Yun
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Marine Chemistry Theory and Technology, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China.
authors.forename: Zong-shan
authors.initials: ZS
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Marine Chemistry Theory and Technology, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China.
authors.forename: Hui-juan
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China.
authors.forename: Yu-xiao
authors.initials: YX
authors.lastname: Gu
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China.
authors.forename: Jun-juan
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Shao
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Bao-wei
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Xiang-dong
authors.initials: XD
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China.
authors.forename: Gui-bin
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Jiang
mesh_terms: D002681:China; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry*; D008628:Mercury / Q000032:analysis*; D009792:Oceans and Seas; D014872:Water Movements; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D008628:Mercury
keywords: China Sea; Mapping; Mercury; Sediment; Transport