Journal of Tropical Oceanography ›› 2010, Vol. 29 ›› Issue (1): 77-84.doi: 10.11978/j.issn.1009-5470.2010.01.077cstr: 32234.14.j.issn.1009-5470.2010.01.077

• Marine Optics • Previous Articles     Next Articles

The distribution, enrichment and pollution assessment of heavy metals in surface sediments of sea areas around the Nanao Island

QIAO Yong-min1, GU Ji-guang1, YANG-Yang1, HUANG Chang-jiang2   

  1. 1. Institute of hydrobiology, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China; 2. School of Environmental Science and Public Health, Wenzhou Medical College, Wenzhou 325035, China
  • Received:2009-07-26 Revised:2009-11-16 Online:2010-01-15 Published:2001-01-08

Abstract:

The Nanao Island is the main island of the Nanao County, Guangdong province, and the sea area around the island is important for local social and economic development. A survey of heavy metal content, distribution, enrichment and pollution state in sediments was conducted in May and July 2004. A total of eleven sediment samples were collected from mariculture base: Houjiang Bay, Baisha Bay and A tourist resort: Qingao Bay along the coast of the Nanao Island. The results showed that the contents of heavy metals were Cd: 0.19mg.kg-1, Cr: 26.86mg.kg-1, Cu: 20.71mg.kg-1, Ni: 22.78mg.kg-1, Pb: 35.67 mg.kg-1, Zn: 79.48mg.kg-1, much higher than those in similar bays of economically developed coastal areas and lower than those of offshore areas without anthropogenic impact. Average heavy metals in sediment tended to be lower in inner bays than at the mouth of the bay, and higher at aquaculture sites than non-aquaculture ones. However, there was no significant difference among studied bays, suggesting that river input maybe the main source of heavy metals in sea areas around the Nanao Island, which resulted in the enrichment of Cu (Cf = 2.75) and Pb (Cf = 2.27) that are representative elements of sewage. Based on the marine sediment quality standard, sediment quality criteria and baseline values for the United States Pacific Coast, the heavy metal pollution near the Nanao Island generally presented a slightly higher level. However, more attentions should be paid to the potential pollution effects.

Key words: Nanao Island, surface sediment, heavy metal, distribution, enrichment, pollution assessment