title: Environmental assessment of heavy metal transport and transformation in the Hangzhou Bay, China.
abstract: The environmental impact of heavy metal (Cu, Cd, Zn, Pb, Ni, (90)Sr and (137)Cs) transport and transformation in the Hangzhou Bay (China) was assessed through a comprehensive model that integrates hydrodynamics, sediment and heavy metal transport. A mechanistic surface complexation model was used to estimate the adsorption and desorption of heavy metal by suspended sediment under different aqueous chemistry conditions. The dynamics of metal exchange to and from the seabed was also assessed. The primary processes regulating heavy metal distribution, i.e., convection-diffusion, adsorption-desorption, sedimentation-resuspension, as well as other physical and chemical processes related to mass exchange between adjacent sediment layers, were considered in detail. The accidental discharge of (137)Cs was simulated as an example and results showed that (137)Cs transported along the coast driven by tidal flow. Most (137)Cs distributed near the outfall and accumulated in the seabed sediment. The proposed model can be a useful tool for predicting heavy metal transport and fate and provide a theoretical basis to guide field sampling, assessment of risks and the design of remediation strategies.
authors.affiliation: The State Key Laboratory of Hydro Science and Engineering, Department of Hydraulic Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, PR China.
authors.forename: Hongwei
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.affiliation: The State Key Laboratory of Hydro Science and Engineering, Department of Hydraulic Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, PR China.
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: The State Key Laboratory of Hydro Science and Engineering, Department of Hydraulic Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, PR China.
authors.forename: Jingyu
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: The State Key Laboratory of Hydro Science and Engineering, Department of Hydraulic Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, PR China.
authors.forename: Guojian
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: He
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409-1023, United States. Electronic address: danny.reible@ttu.edu.
authors.forename: Danny
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Reible
mesh_terms: D061006:Bays; D002681:China; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000737:chemistry*; D008956:Models, Chemical; D011868:Radioisotopes / Q000737:chemistry*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012623:Seawater; D014872:Water Movements; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000737:chemistry*; D014875:Water Pollutants, Radioactive / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D019216:Metals, Heavy; D011868:Radioisotopes; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D014875:Water Pollutants, Radioactive
keywords: Environmental impact; Hangzhou Bay; Heavy metal transport; Numerical modeling; Sediment