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Mobility and ecological risk assessment of heavy metals in surface sediments of Xiamen Bay and its adjacent areas, China

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Abstract

Xiamen Bay (XMB) has received substantial loadings of pollutants from industrial and municipal wastewater discharged since the 1980s. To assess ecological risks and the current spatial changes of metal contaminants in bottom surface sediments, 12 samples were collected. Samples were subjected to a total digestion technique and analyzed by ICP–OES for Cu, Pb, Zn, Cr, and Cd, and by AFS for Hg and As. Among these metals, Zn had the highest values (68–268 mg kg−1), followed by Pb (27–71 mg kg−1), and lower concentrations were found for Cd (42–1,913 μg kg−1) and Hg (0–442 μg kg−1). In comparison with the average crustal abundance values, the results indicated that nearly half of the sediment samples of XMB and its adjacent areas were contaminated by Cd, Pb, Zn, and As. Furthermore, based on the modified BCR sequential extraction procedure, the chemical speciation of heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, Zn, Hg, and As) in selected sediment samples were evaluated in this study. Data from BCR sequential extractions indicated that Cd posed a medium ecological risk, whereas, Cr posed low risk since its exchangeable and carbonate fractions were below 4%, and the mobility of heavy metals in XMB decreased in the order Cd > Pb > Cu > Zn > Hg > As > Cr. By applying mean effects range median quotients (mERMQ), the results showed that Yuandang Lagoon with mERMQ value >0.5 would be expected to have the greatest potential toxic risk in amphipod within XMB and its adjacent areas.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by Chinese Academy of Sciences (KZCX2-YW-422-4). The authors would like to express their special thanks to Yijun Yan and Chao Cai for helping with some laboratory works. The anonymous reviewers are also appreciated for their valuable comments that have greatly improved the paper.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Lab of Urban Environment and Health, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 361021, Xiamen, China

    Changzhou Yan, Qingzhao Li, Xian Zhang & Guoxin Li

  2. Zhengzhou Institute of Aeronautical Industry Management, 450015, Zhengzhou, China

    Qingzhao Li

  3. Graduate University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100049, Beijing, China

    Qingzhao Li & Guoxin Li

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  1. Changzhou Yan
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  2. Qingzhao Li
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  3. Xian Zhang
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Correspondence to Changzhou Yan.

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Yan, C., Li, Q., Zhang, X. et al. Mobility and ecological risk assessment of heavy metals in surface sediments of Xiamen Bay and its adjacent areas, China. Environ Earth Sci 60, 1469–1479 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-009-0282-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-009-0282-3

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