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. 2012;7(6):e39690.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0039690. Epub 2012 Jun 29.

Integrated assessment of heavy metal contamination in sediments from a coastal industrial basin, NE China

Xiaoyu Li  1 , Lijuan Liu, Yugang Wang, Geping Luo, Xi Chen, Xiaoliang Yang, Bin Gao, Xingyuan He
Affiliations

Integrated assessment of heavy metal contamination in sediments from a coastal industrial basin, NE China

Xiaoyu Li et al. PLoS One. 2012.

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to investigate the current status of metal pollution of the sediments from urban-stream, estuary and Jinzhou Bay of the coastal industrial city, NE China. Forty surface sediment samples from river, estuary and bay and one sediment core from Jinzhou bay were collected and analyzed for heavy metal concentrations of Cu, Zn, Pb, Cd, Ni and Mn. The data reveals that there was a remarkable change in the contents of heavy metals among the sampling sediments, and all the mean values of heavy metal concentration were higher than the national guideline values of marine sediment quality of China (GB 18668-2002). This is one of the most polluted of the world's impacted coastal systems. Both the correlation analyses and geostatistical analyses showed that Cu, Zn, Pb and Cd have a very similar spatial pattern and come from the industrial activities, and the concentration of Mn mainly caused by natural factors. The estuary is the most polluted area with extremely high potential ecological risk; however the contamination decreased with distance seaward of the river estuary. This study clearly highlights the urgent need to make great efforts to control the industrial emission and the exceptionally severe heavy metal pollution in the coastal area, and the immediate measures should be carried out to minimize the rate of contamination, and extent of future pollution problems.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. The sampling sites in the study area.
(a, Lianshan River upstream of Huludao Zinc Smelter (n = 4); b, Wuli River upstream of Huludao Zinc Smelter (n = 5); c, Converged river Downstream of Huludao Zinc Smelter (n = 3); d, Estuary (n = 4); e, Jinzhou Bay (n = 25)).
Figure 2
Figure 2. Estimated concentration maps for Cu, Zn, Pb, Cd, Ni and Mn (mg/kg).
Figure 3
Figure 3. The spatial distribution pattern of RI of sediments in Jinzhou Bay.
Figure 4
Figure 4. Vertical profiles of heavy metals for sediment core of Jinzhou bay, NE coast of China.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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