title: Distributions and contamination assessment of heavy metals in the surface sediments of western Laizhou Bay: Implications for the sources and influencing factors.
abstract: Heavy metals (Cu, Pb, Cr, Cd and As) contents in surface sediments from western Laizhou Bay were analysed to evaluate the spatial distribution pattern and their contamination level. As was mainly concentrated in the coastal area near the estuaries and the other metals were mainly concentrated in the central part of the study area. The heavy metals were present at unpolluted levels overall evaluated by the sediment quality guidelines and geoaccumulation index. Principal component analysis suggest that Cu, Pb and Cd were mainly sourced from natural processes and As was mainly derived from anthropogenic inputs. Meanwhile, Cr originated from both natural processes and anthropogenic contributions. Tidal currents, sediments and human activities were important factors affecting the distribution of heavy metals. The heavy metal environment was divided into four subareas to provide a reference for understanding the distribution and pollution of heavy metals in the estuary-bay system.
authors.affiliation: College of Marine Geoscience, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, PR China; Key Lab of Submarine Geosciences and Prospecting Techniques, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, PR China.
authors.forename: Pan
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: College of Marine Geoscience, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, PR China; Key Lab of Submarine Geosciences and Prospecting Techniques, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, PR China. Electronic address: hrj@ouc.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Rijun
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: College of Marine Geoscience, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, PR China; Key Lab of Submarine Geosciences and Prospecting Techniques, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, PR China.
authors.forename: Longhai
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: National Marine Environmental Monitoring Center, PR China.
authors.forename: Peng
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: College of Marine Geoscience, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, PR China; Key Lab of Submarine Geosciences and Prospecting Techniques, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, PR China.
authors.forename: Dongxiao
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.affiliation: College of Marine Geoscience, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, PR China; Key Lab of Submarine Geosciences and Prospecting Techniques, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, PR China.
authors.forename: Lianjie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D061006:Bays; D002681:China; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D019015:Geologic Sediments; D006801:Humans; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D019216:Metals, Heavy; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
keywords: Contamination assessment; Environmental zonings; Heavy metals; Laizhou Bay