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Ecological risk assessment of heavy metals in surface seawater and sediment near the outlet of a zinc factory in Huludao City, Liaoning Province, China

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Abstract

At present, the methods widely applied to assess ecological risk of heavy metals are essentially single-point estimates in which exposure and toxicity data cannot be fully used and probabilities of adverse biological eff ects cannot be achieved. In this study, based on investigation of concentrations of six heavy metals (As, Hg, Pb, Cd, Cu, and Zn) in the surface seawater and sediment near the outlet of a zinc factory, located in Huludao City, Liaoning Province, China, a tiered approach consisting of several probabilistic options was used to refine ecological risk assessment for the individuals. A mixture of various heavy metals was detected in the surface seawater, and potential ecological risk index (PERI) was adopted to assess the potential ecological risk of heavy metals in the surface sediment. The results from all levels of aquatic ecological risk assessment in the tiered framework, ranging from comparison of single eff ects and exposure values to the use of distribution-based Hazard Quotient obtained through Monte Carlo simulation, are consistent with each other. Briefly, aquatic Zn and Cu posed a clear ecological risk, while Cd, Pb, Hg, and As in the water column posed potential risk. As expected, combined ecological risk of heavy metal mixture in the surface seawater was proved significantly higher than the risk caused by any individual heavy metal, calculated using the concept of total equivalent concentration. According to PERI, the severity of pollution by the six heavy metals in the surface sediment decreased in the following sequence: Cd>Hg>As>Pb>Cu>Zn, and the total heavy metals in the sediment posed a very high risk to the marine environment. This study provides a useful mathematical framework for ecological risk assessment of heavy metals.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Marine Life Science College, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003, China

    Yongliang Feng  (冯永亮), Yufeng Gong  (宫玉峰) & Hua Tian  (田华)

  2. Dalian Marine Environment Monitor Central Station, State Oceanic Administration (SOA), Dalian, 116015, China

    Yanzhen Chen  (陈燕珍), Jing Wang  (王静), Xigang Liu  (刘希刚) & Gang Mu  (牟刚)

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  1. Yongliang Feng  (冯永亮)
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  2. Yanzhen Chen  (陈燕珍)
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  3. Jing Wang  (王静)
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  4. Yufeng Gong  (宫玉峰)
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  5. Xigang Liu  (刘希刚)
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  6. Gang Mu  (牟刚)
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  7. Hua Tian  (田华)
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Correspondence to Hua Tian  (田华).

Additional information

Supported by the Science and Technology Project of North China Sea Branch of State Oceanic Administration (No. 2014B02)

Supplementary Information (including Figure S1 and Table S1-S6)

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Feng, Y., Chen, Y., Wang, J. et al. Ecological risk assessment of heavy metals in surface seawater and sediment near the outlet of a zinc factory in Huludao City, Liaoning Province, China. Chin. J. Ocean. Limnol. 34, 1320–1331 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00343-016-5112-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00343-016-5112-3

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