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. 2010 Jul-Sep;39(5-6):367-75.
doi: 10.1007/s13280-010-0077-5.

Ecological risk assessment of arsenic and metals in sediments of coastal areas of northern Bohai and Yellow Seas, China

Wei Luo  1 , Yonglong Lu, Tieyu Wang, Wenyou Hu, Wentao Jiao, Jonathan E Naile, Jong Seong Khim, John P Giesy
Affiliations

Ecological risk assessment of arsenic and metals in sediments of coastal areas of northern Bohai and Yellow Seas, China

Wei Luo et al. Ambio. 2010 Jul-Sep.

Abstract

Distributions of arsenic and metals in surface sediments collected from the coastal and estuarine areas of the northern Bohai and Yellow Seas, China, were investigated. An ecological risk assessment of arsenic and metals in the sediments was evaluated by three approaches: the Sediment Quality Guidelines (SQGs) of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), the degree of contamination, and two sets of SQGs indices. Sediments from the estuaries of the Wuli and Yalu Rivers contained some of the greatest concentrations of arsenic, cadmium, copper, mercury, lead, and zinc. Median concentrations of cadmium and mean concentrations of lead and zinc were greater than background concentrations determined for the areas. All sediments were considered to be heavily polluted by arsenic, but moderately polluted by chromium, lead, and cadmium. Current concentrations of arsenic and metals are unlikely to be acutely toxic, but chronic exposures would be expected to cause adverse effects on benthic invertebrates at 31.4% of the sites.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Location map of surface sediments collected from the northern Bohai and Yellow Seas, China
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Distributions of arsenic and metals in the sediments collected from the northern Bohai and Yellow Seas, China
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Assessment of sediment contamination by the contamination factor and the degree of contamination
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Classification of the surface sediments based on SQGs (Star indicates city location)
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