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A comprehensive investigation and assessment of mercury in intertidal sediment in continental coast of Shanghai

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Abstract

The aims of this paper were to survey the total Hg levels and distribution character in intertidal sediment in continental coast of Shanghai, and identify the environment factors that might influence the sediment Hg concentrations, and to assess the pollution degree and potential ecological risk of Hg in sediment. Eighty-eight surface sediment samples and 18 sediment cores were collected for Hg contamination analysis. Physicochemical properties including Eh, particle size, content of total organic carbon (TOC), and acid volatile sulfide (AVS) were also measured. Index of geo-accumulation (I geo) and potential ecological risk index were used respectively to assess the pollution levels and the ecological risk of sediment Hg. The average of total Hg concentrations in surface sediments was 107.4 ± 90.9 ng/g with the range from 0 to 465.9 ng/g. Higher Hg concentrations were generally found in surface sediments near sewage outfalls and the mouth of rivers. Total Hg concentrations were significantly correlated with TOC (p < 0.05) both in surface (r = 0.24) and core (r = 0.29) sediments, but not with the other environment factors (Eh, AVS, and particle size). Geo-accumulation index indicated that Hg contamination in intertidal sediments was generally at none to moderate degree, while potential ecological risk index demonstrated that the risk caused by Hg were at moderate to considerable level. Intertidal sediment in continental coast of Shanghai has generally been contaminated by Hg, and it might pose moderate to considerable risk to the local ecosystem. The Hg contamination is related more to the coastal pollution sources and complicated hydrodynamic and sedimentary conditions than the other environment factors studied.

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Acknowledgments

This work was jointly supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 40903049, 40971259, and 40973078), the Ministry of Environmental Protection of China and Ministry of Housing and Urban–Rural development of China (Grant No. 2009ZX07317-006), and the Science & Technology Department of Shanghai (Grant Nos. 10JC1404300 and 11230705800). The authors also would like to thank the reviewers and associate editor who aided in the development and improvement of this paper.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Resources and Environmental Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China

    Huanguang Deng, Dongqi Wang, Zhenlou Chen & Shiyuan Xu

  2. School of Environment and Planning, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng, 252059, Shandong Province, China

    Huanguang Deng & Ju Zhang

  3. Department of Oceanography and Coastal Sciences, School of the Coast and Environment, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, 70803, USA

    Ronald D. Delaune

Authors
  1. Huanguang Deng
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  2. Dongqi Wang
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  3. Zhenlou Chen
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  4. Shiyuan Xu
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  5. Ju Zhang
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  6. Ronald D. Delaune
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Correspondence to Dongqi Wang.

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Responsible editor: Céline Guéguen

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Deng, H., Wang, D., Chen, Z. et al. A comprehensive investigation and assessment of mercury in intertidal sediment in continental coast of Shanghai. Environ Sci Pollut Res 20, 6297–6305 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-013-1665-2

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