Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Fe2O3 as indicator of heavy metal enrichment in Zhujiang (Pearl River) estuary sediments

  • Published:
Journal of Zhejiang University-SCIENCE A Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A part of the heavy metals in estuary and coastal zone occurs naturally in the environment; the other part is due to human activity; so the directly measured concentration of heavy metal does not automatically indicate anthropogenic enrichment. Fe2O3 was used in this study as conservative tracer to distinguish natural components from anthropogenic components of heavy metal sediment concentration in the Zhujiang estuary. Compared with clay and Al2O3, Fe2O3 is more suitable as reference element. The final results showed that two zones in the Zhujiang estuary were seriously contaminated by heavy metals. One nearby the Humen mouth; the other around the west coast of the estuary. The horizontal distribution of heavy metals indicates that Zn, Ni and Cu have wider contaminating areas than TiO2, V and Cr in the estuary.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Chen, Y. T., 1991a. The concentration, component characteristics and the trend of deposition and dispersion of the Zhujiang River’s sands flowing into the South China Sea. Acta Scientiarum Naturalium Universitatis Sunyatseni. 30(1):105–112 (in Chinese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen, Y. T., Luo, Z. R., 1991b. Modern sedimentation velocity and its reflected sedimentary characteristics in the Pearl River mouth. Tropic Oceanology. 10:57–64 (in Chinese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Daskalakis, K., O’conner, T., 1995. Normalization and elemental sediment contamination in the coast United States. Environment Science and Technology. 29:470–477.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Din, Z., 1992. Use of aluminum to normalize heavy-metal data from estuarine and coastal shelf sediments of Strait of Melaka. Marine Pollution Bulletin. 24: 484–491.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hills, P., Zhang, L., Liu, J. H., 1998. Transboundary pollution between Guangdong Province and Hong Kong: threats to water quality in the Pearl River estuary and their implications for environmental policy and planning. Oceanographic Literature Review. 45(9):1657.

    Google Scholar 

  • Li, Y. F., 1981. The distributions and the behaviors of Cu, Pb, Zn in water and suspended matter in the Zhujiang estuary. Acta Oceanologica Sinica. 3(3): 423–433 (in Chinese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Li, Y. F., Chen, J. S., 1989. A study on the suspended matters in the Zhujiang estuary (IV): chemical component and its change. Acta Oceanologica Sinica. 11(3):310–416 (in Chinese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Li, F. Y., Zhu, Z. H., 1996. Variations of phases in trace metals and their biological effects in the Zhujiang River estuary. Tropic Oceanology. 15:81–86 (in Chinese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Li, X. D., Wai, O. W. H., Li, Y. S. et al., 2000. Heavy metal distribution in sediment profiles of the Pearl River estuary, South China. Applied Geochemisty. 15:567–581.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li, X. D., Shen, Z. G., Wai, O. W. H. et al., 2001. Chemical forms of Pb, Zn and Cu in the sediment profiles of the Pearl River estuary. Marine Pollution bulletin. 42(3):215–223.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Loring, D., 1990. Lithium-A new approach for granulo-metric normalization of trace metal data. Marine Chemistry. 29:155–168.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pao, Y. E., 1988. The relationship between sediments of Liaohe estuary and background of heavy metal. Marine Environ. Science, 7(2):20–27 (in Chinese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Schropp, S., Lewis, G., Windom H. et al., 1990. Interpretation of metal concentrations in estuarine sediments of Florida using aluminum as a reference element. Estuaries. 13:227–235.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wu, Y. R., Zeng, J. Y., 1983. Pollution degree and background of heavy metal in estuary, bay and coast zone. Marine Environmental Science. 2(4):60–67 (in Chinese).

    MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  • Ying, Z. F., 1995. A study on notable features of sedimentary dynamics in Lingdingyang estuary of the Zhujiang River. Tropic Oceanology. 14:76–82 (in Chinese).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Earth Science Department, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027, China

    Xiao-tong Peng

  2. Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510640, China

    Huai-yang Zhou

  3. Second Institute of Oceanography, SOA, Hangzhou, 310027, China

    Jian-ming Pan & Chuan-yu Hu

Authors
  1. Xiao-tong Peng
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Huai-yang Zhou
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Jian-ming Pan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Chuan-yu Hu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Xiao-tong Peng.

Additional information

Project supported by the Major State Basic Research (973) Programme (G2000078503), National Natural Science Key Foundation of China (No. 49736220) and Pearl River Pollution Project (PREPP).

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Peng, Xt., Zhou, Hy., Pan, Jm. et al. Fe2O3 as indicator of heavy metal enrichment in Zhujiang (Pearl River) estuary sediments. J. Zheijang Univ.-Sci. A 3, 199–204 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1631/BF03396438

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1631/BF03396438

Key words

Search

Navigation