Trace Metals Risk Evaluation and Pollution Identification inSurficial Sediment from the Haikou Bay, South China Sea

Abstract

Potential contamination risks and relevance of source identification for fivetrace metals (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, and Pb) from surficial sediments obtained in Haikou Baywere investigated by applying a set of multivariate analysis methods for the first time. Itwas demonstrated that metal concentrations reflecting distribution features for the metalsof interest were slightly higher on the east side than those on the west side. A risk assessmentconclusion revealed potential contamination areas were present in the vicinityof highly intense human development activities. Speciation obtained by an optimizedBCR sequential extraction technique demonstrated that As and Cr were dominated byresidual fraction. However, Pb, Cu, and Cd were mainly composed with non-residualfractions and of high bioavailability indicating these trace metals had significant anthropogenicsources. The relationship between content characteristics and trace metal fractionswas revealed by Pearsons’ correlation analysis. Hierarchical cluster analysis suggestedthat Pb, Cu, and Cd had similar sources relevant to anthropogenic sources andconfirmed by chemical speciation analysis. Results provide a base for the local authorityin the area of interest to monitor long term contribution of trace metals in coastal sedimentsand then apply strategies to address the polluted sediments.