Metal contamination in sediments of the western Bohai Bay and adjacent estuaries, China

Huan Feng, Hongyou Jiang, Wensheng Gao, Michael P. Weinstein, Qiufeng Zhang, Weiguo Zhang, Lizhong Yu, Dekui Yuan, Jianhua Tao

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192 Scopus citations

Abstract

Twelve sediment cores were collected in July 2007 in open waters of western Bohai Bay, the Port of Tianjin, and the adjacent estuaries of the Haihe and Yongding Rivers. While overall concentrations of trace metals at incremental depths in these cores met the Marine Sediment Quality (GB18668-2002) criteria of China, the magnitude of both metal enrichment factors (EF) and geoaccumulation indices (Igeo) suggested that pollution with Ag, Cd, Cr, Cu and Zn was occurring in the estuaries and Port. Risk analysis also suggested that Ag and Ni concentrations were sufficiently elevated as to cause adverse biological effects in the study area. Although metal concentrations in western Bohai Bay were of less concern, a positive relationship between EF values and excess 210Pb activity for several metals suggested that their concentrations were increasing over time.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1185-1197
Number of pages13
JournalJournal of Environmental Management
Volume92
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 2011

Keywords

  • Bohai Bay
  • Environmental assessment
  • Port of Tianjin
  • Sediment metal contamination
  • Urban estuary

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