title: Ecological risk assessment of a coastal zone in Southern Vietnam: Spatial distribution and content of heavy metals in water and surface sediments of the Thi Vai Estuary and Can Gio Mangrove Forest.
abstract: Enrichment of heavy metals was assessed in the Thi Vai Estuary and in the Can Gio Mangrove Forest (SE, Vietnam). Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn contents in water and in sediments were measured. Total organic carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus and C/N ratios were determined. Cu and Cr values were higher than threshold effect level of toxicity, while Ni exceeded probable effect level, indicating the risk of probable toxicity effects. Enrichment factors (EF), contamination factor (CF) and Geo-accumulation index (I-geo) were determined. CF reveals moderate to considerable pollution with Cr and Ni. EF suggests anthropogenic sources of Cr, Cu and Ni. I-geo indicates low contamination with Co, Cu and Zn and moderate contamination with Cr and Ni. Overall metal contents were lower than expected for this highly industrialized region, probably due to dilution, suggesting that erosion rates and hydrodynamics may also play a role in metal contents distribution.
authors: Institut für Geosysteme und Bioindikation, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Langer Kamp 19c, D-38106 Braunschweig, Germany. Electronic address: s.boeddeker@tu-bs.de.
authors: Sandra
authors: S
authors: Costa-Böddeker
authors: Institut für Geographische Wissenschaften, Physische Geographie, Freie Universität Berlin, Malteserstr 74-100 12249, Berlin. Electronic address: philipp.hoelzmann@fu-berlin.de.
authors: Philipp
authors: P
authors: Hoelzmann
authors: Faculty of Biology - Biotechnology, Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City-University of Science, 227 Nguyen Van Cu, District 5, Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam. Electronic address: lxthuyen@hcmus.edu.vn.
authors: Lê Xuân
authors: LX
authors: Thuyên
authors: Faculty of Biology - Biotechnology, Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City-University of Science, 227 Nguyen Van Cu, District 5, Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam. Electronic address: hdhuy@hcmus.edu.vn.
authors: Hoang Duc
authors: HD
authors: Huy
authors: Institut für Geoökologie, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Langer Kamp 19c, D-38106 Braunschweig, Germany. Electronic address: h-a.nguyen@tu-bs.de.
authors: Hoang Anh
authors: HA
authors: Nguyen
authors: Institut für Geoökologie, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Langer Kamp 19c, D-38106 Braunschweig, Germany. Electronic address: o.richter@tu-bs.de.
authors: Otto
authors: O
authors: Richter
authors: Institut für Geosysteme und Bioindikation, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Langer Kamp 19c, D-38106 Braunschweig, Germany. Electronic address: antje.schwalb@tu-bs.de.
authors: Antje
authors: A
authors: Schwalb
mesh_terms: D002244:Carbon / Q000032:analysis; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D063366:Estuaries; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000032:analysis*; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis*; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000032:analysis; D018570:Risk Assessment; D014744:Vietnam; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*; D053833:Wetlands
chemical_list: D019216:Metals, Heavy; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D002244:Carbon; D009584:Nitrogen
keywords: Biosphere reserve; C/N ratios; Metals enrichment; Nutrients; Pollution indices; Sediment quality criteria