Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Concentration distribution and assessment of heavy metals in sediments of mud area from inner continental shelf of the East China Sea

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Environmental Earth Sciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

    We’re sorry, something doesn't seem to be working properly.

    Please try refreshing the page. If that doesn't work, please contact support so we can address the problem.

Abstract

Heavy metals (Cr, Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb, Hg, and As), grain-size, pH, Eh, and total organic material (TOM and TN) of 59 surficial sediments of mud area from the inner continental shelf of the East China Sea have been analyzed. The relations of the heavy metals to sediment composition, pH, reduction/oxidation conditions and total organic materials were evaluated with multivariate statistics analysis, and the hydrodynamic conditions such as coastal current and Taiwan warm current are the other important controlling factors to the distribution of heavy metals. Sediment enrichment factors and potential ecological hazard index (\( E_{\text{RI}} \)) were used to assess the heavy metals accumulation; the results indicate that moderate contamination of most heavy metals is prevalent, and the contamination level in the estuary is rather high, which is mainly from anthropogenic source. Compared with other areas in China, the contaminant level of the study area is moderate.

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

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Attrill MJ, Thomesm RM (1995) Heavy metal concentrations in sediment from the Thames estuary UK. Mar Pollut Bull 30(11):742–744

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Backman B, Bodiš D, Lahermo P, Rapant S, Tarvainen T (1998) Application of a groundwater contamination index in Finland and Slovakia. Environ Geol 36:55–64

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bodiš D, Kordík J, Rapant S, Slaninka I (1996) Environmental application of regional geochemical baseline data–multielement maps. In: Marsina K, Vrana K (eds) Proc Environ Geochem Baseline Mapping in Europe Conf Geological Survey of Slovak Republik, Bratislava, pp 44–45

  • Bostick BC, Hansel CM, La Force MJ, Fendoref S (2001) Seasonal fluctuations in zinc speciation within a contaminated wetland. Environ Sci Technol 35:3823–3829

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Buat-Menard P, Chesselet R (1979) Variable influence of the atmospheric flux on the trace metal chemistry of oceanic suspended matter. Earth Planet Sci Lett 42:398–411

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Calabrese E, Kostecki P (2001) Background and biology. Environ Forensics 2:113

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen S, Liao WZ, Xu AY, Luo BK (1992) Chemical characteristics of surface sediment in West Xiamen Harbour. J Oceangr Taiwan Strait 11(2):131–137 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen CW, Kao CM, Chen CF, Dong CD (2007) Distribution and accumulation of heavy metals in the sediments of Kaohsiung Harbor, Taiwan. Chemosphere 66:1431–1440

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cheng XS, Liu HQ, Zhang HF, Zhang Y (2006) Potential ecological risk of sediment pollution in Huangpu River. Ecol Environ 15(4):682–686 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Cheung KC, Poon BHT, Lan CY (2003) Assessment of metal and nutrient concentrations in river water and sediment collected from the cities in the Pearl River Delta, South China. Chemosphere 52:1431–1440

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Christl I, Milne CJ, Kinniburgh DG, Kretzschmar R (2001) Relating ion binding by fulvic and humic acids to chemical composition and molecular size. 2. Metal binding. Environ Sci Technol 35:2512–2517

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Clark MW, McConchie D, Lewis DW (1998) Redox stratification and heavy metal partitioning in AI′ icennia dominated mangrove sediments: a geochemical model. Chem Geol 149:147–171

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Emmerson RHC, O’Reilly-Wiese SB, Macleod CL (1997) A multivariate assessment of metal distribution in inter-tidal sediments of the Blackwater estuary, UK. Mar Pollut Bull 34(11):960–968

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guo ZG, Yang ZS, Fan DJ (2002a) Distributions and significance of the fine-grained surface sediments on the north East China Sea shelf. J Ocean University Qingdao 32(5):741–747 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Guo ZG, Yang ZS, Zhang DQ, Fan DJ, Lei K (2002b) Seasonal distribution of suspended matter in the northern East China Sea and barrier effect of current circulation on its transport. Acta Sedimentol Sin 24(5):71–80

    Google Scholar 

  • Hakanson L (1980) An ecological risk index for aquatic pollution control: a sedimentological approach. Water Res 14(8):975–1001

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • He YF, Zhu GW, Chen YX, Tian GM, Chen HL (2002) Study on the ecological risk of the sediment from Hangzhou section of the Grand Canal, China, with potential ecological risk index. J Zhejiang University (Agric & Life Sci) 28(6):669–674 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Hobbelen P, Koolhaas J, van Gestel C (2004) Risk assessment of heavy metal pollution for detritivores in floodplain soils in Beisbosch, the Netherlands, taking bioavailability into account. Evniron Pollut 129:409–419

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huo WY, Huang FR, Chen JS (1997) Comparative study of assessment method for river particulate heavy metal pollution. Scientia Gelgraphica Sinica 17(1):81–86 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Jin YH (1988) The characteristics of estuarine in China. Donghai Marine Sci 6(3):1211 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Li GH, Cao ZM, Lan DZ, Xu J, Wang SS, Yin WH (2007a) Spatial variations in grain size distribution and selected metal contents in the Miamen Bay, China. Environ Geol 52:1559–1567

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li GH, Lan DZ, Cao ZM, Xu J, Wang SS, Lan BB (2007b) Specificity and potential ecological risks of heavy metals in the sediments of the Xiamen sea area. J Marine Sci Bull 26(1):67–72 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Liang Y, Wong MH (2003) Spatial and temporal organic and heavy metal pollution at Mai Po Marshes Nature Reserve, Hong Kong. Chemosphere 52:1647–1658

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lin S, Hsieh IJ, Huang KM (2002) Influence of the Yangtze River and grain size on the spatial variations of heavy metals and organic carbon in the East China Sea continental shelf sediments. Chem Geol 182:377–394

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu C, Wang ZY, He G, Wu YS (2002) Evaluation on the potential ecological risk for the river mouths around Bohai Bay. Res Environ Sci 15(5):33–37 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu L, Li FS, Xiong DQ, Song CY (2006) Heavy metal concentrations and their distribution in different size fractions of the surficial sediment of Haihe River, China. Environ Geol 50:431–438

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu JP, Xu KH, Li AC, Milliman DM, Velozzi DM, Xiao SB, Yang ZS (2007) Flux and fate of Yangtze River sediment delivered to the East China Sea. Geomorphology 85:208–224

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Meng Y, Liu CZ, Cheng J (2003) Geochemical characteristics of heavy metal elements in the surface sediments in the Yangtze River estuarine area and evaluations of the bed materials. Mar Geol Quaternary Geol 23(3):37–43 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Milliman JD, Meade RH (1983) World-wide delivery of river sediment to the oceans. J Geol 91:1–21

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Morford JL, Emerson S (1999) The geochemistry of redox sensitive trace metals in sediments. Geochim Cosmochim Ac 63:1735–1750

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pan YP, Sha WY (2004) Numerical study on the coastal upwelling off Fujian and Zhejiang. Marine Forecasts 21(2):86–95 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Pease P, Lecce S, Gares P, Rigsby C (2007) Heavy metal concentrations in sediment deposits on the Tar River floodplain following Hurricane Floyd. Environ Geol 51:1103–1111

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Peng XT, Zhou HY, Ye Y, Chen GQ (2004) Characteristics of sediment grain size and their implications for bottom hydrodynamic environment in the Pearl River estuary. Acta Sedimentol Sin 22(3):487–493

    Google Scholar 

  • Qin YS, Zhao YY, Chen SL, Zhao SL (1987) Geology of the East China Sea. Science Press, Beijing, p 7 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Rapant S, Salminen R, Tarvainen T, Krčmová K, Cvečková V (2008) Application of a risk assessment method to Europe-wide geochemical baseline data. J Geochem: Exploration, Environment, Analysis 8:291–299

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rubio B, Nombela MA, Vilas F (2000) Geochemistry of major and trace elements in sediments of the Ria de Vigo (NW Spain): an assessment of metal pollution. Mar Pollut Bull 40(11):780–968

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rudolf J, Piero RG, Yong C (2003) Organic compounds and trace metals of anthropogenic origin in sediments from Montego Bay, Jamaica: assessment of sources and distribution pathways. Environ Pollut 123:291–299

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sauve′ S, Hendershot W, Allen HE (2000) Solid–solution partitioning of metals in contaminated soils: dependence on pH, total metal burden, and organic matter. Environ Sci Technol 34(7):1125–1131

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sheng JJ, Fan DJ, Yang DS, Qi HY, Xu L (2008) Distribution patterns of heavy metals in surface sediments of the Yangtze Estuary and its adjacent areas and environmental quality assessment. Environ Sci 29(9):2405–2412 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Struijs J, van de Meent D, Peijnenburg W, van den Hoop M, Crommentuijn T (1997) Added risk approach to derive maximum permissible concentrations for heavy metals: how to take natural background levels into account. Ecotoxicol Environ Safe 37:112–118

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sun XG, Fang M, Huang W (2000) Spatial and temporal variations in suspended particulate matter transport on the Yellow and East China Sea shelf. Oceanologia et Limnologia Sinica 31(6):581–587

    Google Scholar 

  • Tam NFY, Wong YS (2000) Spatial variation of heavy metals in surface sediments of Hong Kong mangrove swamps. Environ Pollut 110:195–205

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ujevic′ I, Odzˇak N, Baric′ A (2000) Trace metal accumulation in different grain size fractions of the sediments from a semienclosed bay heavily contaminated by urban and industrial wastewaters. Water Res 34(11):3055–3061

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang SS, Cao ZM, Lan DZ, Zheng ZC, Li GH (2007) Concentration distribution and assessment of several heavy metals in sediments of west-four Pearl river Estuary. Environ Geol 52:1559–1567

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wen J, Luo DQ, Luo XB, Fang ZF (2006) Ecological risk assessment on heavy metals in the bottom mud of the Qiandao Lake. Res Soil Water Conserv 13(1):11–14 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Xiao SB, Li AC, Liu JP, Chen MH, Xie Q, Jiang FQ, Li TG, Xiang R, Chen Z (2006) Coherence between solar activity and the East China Asian winter monsoon variability in the past 8000 years from Yangtze River-derived mud in the East China Sea. Palaeogeogr Palaeocl 237:293–304

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Xiao SB, Li AC, Liu WG, Zhao JC, Xu FJ (2009) Geochemical characteristics of mud on the inner shelf of the East China Sea. Prog Nat Sci 19(2):185–191 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Xu KH, Milliman JD, Li AC, Liu JP, Kao SJ, Wan SM (2009) Yangtze- and Taiwan-derived sediments on the inner shelf of East China Sea. Continental Shelf Res 29(18):2240–2256

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yang M, Kostaschuk R, Chen ZY (2004) Historical changes in heavy metals in the Yangtze Estuary, China. Environ Geol 46:857–864

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yuan C, Shi J, He B, Liu J (2004) Speciation of heavy metals in marine sediments from the East China sea by ICP-MS with sequential extraction. Environ Int 30:769–783

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang ZZ, Li SL, Dong YX, Wang QH, Xiao F, Lu J (2005) Deposition rate and geochemical characters of sediments in Zhejiang offshore. Mar Geol Quaternary Geol 25(3):15–24 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang LX, Jiang XS, Zhao M, Li ZE (2007) Pollution of surface sediments and its assessment of potential ecological risk in the Yangtze estuary. Ecol Environ 16(2):389–393 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This work was funded by the research project: Chinese coastal ocean investigation and research project (No: 908-01-CJ12, 908-ZC-I-05 and 908-02-02-05), ocean commonweal project (No: 200805063) and key program of national natural science foundation of China (No: 40431002).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Lab of Marine Sedimentology and Environmental Geology, First Institute of Oceanography, SOA, 6 Xianxialing Road, Qingdao, 266061, Shandong Province, China

    Shengfa Liu, Xuefa Shi, Yanguang Liu, Zhiwei Zhu, Gang Yang, Aimei Zhu & Jingjing Gao

Authors
  1. Shengfa Liu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Xuefa Shi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Yanguang Liu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Zhiwei Zhu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Gang Yang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Aimei Zhu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Jingjing Gao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Shengfa Liu.

Electronic supplementary material

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

Supplementary material 1 (DOC 133 kb)

Supplementary material 2 (DOC 162 kb)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Liu, S., Shi, X., Liu, Y. et al. Concentration distribution and assessment of heavy metals in sediments of mud area from inner continental shelf of the East China Sea. Environ Earth Sci 64, 567–579 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-011-0941-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-011-0941-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation