Heavy metal contamination in surface sediments of Yangtze River intertidal zone: An assessment from different indexes

Weiguo Zhang, Huan Feng, Jinna Chang, Jianguo Qu, Hongxia Xie, Lizhong Yu

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

550 Scopus citations

Abstract

Surface sediments (0-5 cm) from 59 stations within the Yangtze River intertidal zone (YRIZ) were sampled for metal contamination analysis in April and August 2005. The concentrations ranged (in mg kg-1 dry weight): Al, 40,803-97,213; Fe, 20,538-49,627; Cd, 0.12-0.75; Cr, 36.9-173; Cu, 6.87-49.7; Mn, 413-1,112; Ni, 17.6-48.0; Pb, 18.3-44.1; and Zn, 47.6-154; respectively. Among the 59 sampling stations, enrichment factors (EF) indicate enrichment of Cd (52 stations), Cr (54 stations), Cu (5 stations), Ni (26 stations), Pb (5 stations) and Zn (5 stations). Geoaccumulation indexes (Igeo) also suggest individual metal contamination in localized areas. This study indicates that Cd, Cr and Ni enrichment in the YRIZ sediment is widespread whereas Cu, Mn, Pb and Zn enrichment is localized or nonexistent. Factor and cluster analyses indicate that Cd is associated with total organic carbon whereas Cu, Cr, Ni, Pb and Zn have a close association with Mn.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1533-1543
Number of pages11
JournalEnvironmental Pollution
Volume157
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - May 2009

Keywords

  • Contamination
  • Heavy metals
  • Intertidal zone sediments
  • Sediment quality criteria
  • Yangtze River estuary

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