Construction of Background Values of Arsenic and Mercury and Their Pollution Assessment in Key Intertidal Sediment Cores of China

CAI Zhuang; HOU Guohua; GAO Maosheng

doi:10.15898/j.cnki.11-2131/td.202202220028

2022 Vol. 41, No. 5

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CAI Zhuang, HOU Guohua, GAO Maosheng. Construction of Background Values of Arsenic and Mercury and Their Pollution Assessment in Key Intertidal Sediment Cores of China[J]. Rock and Mineral Analysis, 2022, 41(5): 857-866. doi: 10.15898/j.cnki.11-2131/td.202202220028

Citation:

CAI Zhuang, HOU Guohua, GAO Maosheng. Construction of Background Values of Arsenic and Mercury and Their Pollution Assessment in Key Intertidal Sediment Cores of China[J]. Rock and Mineral Analysis, 2022, 41(5): 857-866. doi: 10.15898/j.cnki.11-2131/td.202202220028

Construction of Background Values of Arsenic and Mercury and Their Pollution Assessment in Key Intertidal Sediment Cores of China

1.
College of Marine Science and Technology, China University of Geosciences (Wuhan), Wuhan 430000, China
2.
Qingdao Institute of Marine Geology, China Geological Survey, Qingdao 266000, China
3.
Laboratory for Marine Mineral Resources, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao 266000, China

More Information

Corresponding author: HOU Guohua, houguohua1987@163.com

Received Date: 22 February 2022

Revised Date: 21 June 2022

Accepted Date: 18 August 2022

Publish Date: 28 September 2022

Abstract

Abstract

BACKGROUND
The contamination of arsenic and mercury in intertidal sediments will lead to excessive levels of arsenic and mercury in the flora and fauna of the region, which will seriously affect the ecological environment of local vegetation and further affect the survival and safety of human beings. Therefore, it is of great practical significance to study the changes in the contents and spatial distribution of arsenic and mercury in intertidal sediments.
OBJECTIVES
To investigate the contents of arsenic and mercury in sediments, so as to provide basic information on the pollution of arsenic and mercury in intertidal sediments.
METHODS
The contents of arsenic and mercury in the sediments of the study area were determined by atomic fluorescence spectrometry (AFS), and iron was selected as the normalized element to establish the environmental background values of arsenic and mercury elements in different intertidal sediments. The geoaccumulation index method and potential ecological hazard index method were used to evaluate the pollution status of arsenic and mercury in the study area.
RESULTS
Background value of arsenic content: Minjiang Estuary (2.90mg/kg) < Daliao Estuary (6.42mg/kg) < Yancheng Shoal in northern Jiangsu (11.02mg/kg) < Pearl River Estuary (19.19mg/kg). Background value of mercury content: maximum in Pearl River Estuary (0.08mg/kg), less in Daliao Estuary, Yancheng shoal and Minjiang Estuary (0.02mg/kg, 0.02mg/kg, 0.03mg/kg, respectively). The maximum values of background values of arsenic and mercury were both found in the Pearl River Estuary, and the minimum values were located in the Minjiang Estuary. The maximum values of arsenic and mercury of sediments were both found in the Pearl River Estuary, which were 42.90mg/kg and 0.287mg/kg, respectively, and were greater than the first class of Marine Sediment Quality Standard (arsenic: 20.0mg/kg; mercury: 0.2mg/kg). Arsenic belonged to no pollution and slight potential ecological hazards in the four intertidal sediments. Mercury was a medium potential ecological hazard in the Pearl River Estuary, and slight pollution or no pollution in the other three intertidal sediments.
CONCLUSIONS
The distribution of arsenic and mercury in the sediments of the four intertidal zones in the study area is characterized by "high in the south and low in the north". The arsenic and mercury contents in the intertidal sediments of Minjiang and Pearl River estuaries are more influenced by industrial and agricultural activities, thus causing the distribution features. The pollution of arsenic and mercury in the Pearl River Estuary is more serious than other intertidal areas, so it is urgent to strengthen the control of their pollution trends.
- intertidal zone /
- sediment core /
- heavy metals /
- background value /
- pollution assessment /
- atomic fluorescence spectrometry

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