Magnetic diagnosis model for heavy metal pollution in beach sediments of Qingdao, China

Magnetic techniques have been widely used in recent decades to determine heavy metal pollution in sediments due to their high sensitivity to magnetic particles and considerable measurement convenience. Beaches are usually greatly influenced by human activities, but pollution problems such as heavy metal pollution due to sewage discharge, nearby factories, and garbage disposal have reduced the tourism value and ecological environmental quality of beaches. In this study, three beaches in Qingdao city were chosen as examples, and a magnetic diagnostic model for heavy metal pollution in beach sediments was established using statistical methods. The results showed that beach No. 1 in Qingdao was not polluted, while the pollution level of beach No. 2 was lower than that of beach No. 3. Beach No. 2 exhibited slight Cr and Zn pollution and slight Fe enrichment, while beach No. 3 exhibited slight to severe Cr, Ni, and Zn pollution and severe Fe enrichment. The statistical model results indicated that χ, saturation isothermal remanent magnetization (SIRM), SOFT, and χ_ARM are more suitable for establishing magnetic diagnostic models, and the pollution level, pollution source and diffusion range of heavy metal elements could be detected with this model. The main causes of pollution are sewage outlets and the disposal of artificial coal ash. When the magnetic susceptibility value of the 0.063–0.125 mm particle size fraction of Qingdao beach sediments is greater than 6000 × 10⁻⁸ m³kg⁻¹, attention should be given to possible contamination by heavy metals. In this study, we revealed that environmental magnetic methods can be employed to effectively determine the pollution level, source, and diffusion of heavy metals in beach sediments, which can facilitate the management of heavy metals and other pollutants in beach sediments and ecological environmental protection.