title: Assessment of metal contamination in coastal sediments of the Maluan Bay (China) using geochemical indices and multivariate statistical approaches.
abstract: Total concentrations and chemical forms of heavy metals in surface sediments of Maluan Bay were determined and multiple geochemical indices and guidelines were applied to assess potential contamination and environmental risks. Metal concentrations exhibited significant spatial variation and the speciation of Cr was presented dominantly in the residual fraction, while Cd was found mostly in the non-residual fraction and thus of high potential bioavailability. Cluster analysis separated four subgroups of sampling sites with different levels of contamination. Further, a multivariate method offered the specific interpretation of possible contaminant sources and/or pathways. Factor scores characterized the sampling locations and elucidated the pollution status, pointing out the impact of multiple "hidden hotspots" of contaminants and providing further evidence of the existence of clear pollution-risk gradients in lagoon areas. The study supports the integrative approach as powerful tool to diagnose the pollution status scientifically for management decisions in coastal sediment of complex environment.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Urban Environment and Health, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 1799 Jimei Boulevard, Xiamen City 361021, China. Electronic address: zswang@iue.ac.cn.
authors.forename: Zaosheng
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Environmental Dynamics, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510301, China.
authors.forename: Yushao
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Urban Environment and Health, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 1799 Jimei Boulevard, Xiamen City 361021, China; School of Environment, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130117, China.
authors.forename: Liuqin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Urban Environment and Health, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 1799 Jimei Boulevard, Xiamen City 361021, China.
authors.forename: Changzhou
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Urban Environment and Health, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 1799 Jimei Boulevard, Xiamen City 361021, China.
authors.forename: Yijun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Urban Environment and Health, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 1799 Jimei Boulevard, Xiamen City 361021, China.
authors.forename: Qiaoqiao
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Chi
mesh_terms: D061006:Bays / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D002104:Cadmium / Q000032:analysis; D002681:China; D002857:Chromium / Q000032:analysis; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis*; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D019216:Metals, Heavy; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D002104:Cadmium; D002857:Chromium
keywords: Coastal sediments; Geochemical indices; Heavy metals; Multivariate statistics; PCA/FA; Pollution-risk gradients