Multivariate Analyses and Evaluation of Heavy Metals by Chemometric BCR Sequential Extraction Method in Surface Sediments from Lingdingyang Bay, South China

Sustainability

Linglong Cao¹  Haitiao Tian¹  Jie Yang³  Ping Shi¹  Quansheng Lou¹  Lali Waxi²  Zhixin Ni³  Xiaojuan Peng³ 

[1] South China Sea Marine Engineering and Environment Institute, State Oceanic Administration People’s Republic Of China, Guangzhou 510300, China; E-Mail:;School of Earth Sciences and Engineering Geology, SunYat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China; E-Mail:;South China Sea Marine Environment Monitoring Center, State Oceanic Administration People’s Republic Of China, Guangzhou 510915, China; E-Mails:

关键词: heavy metal;    BCR-sequential extraction;    assessment;    sediment;    pollution control;    environmental conservation;    Lingdingyang Bay;   

DOI  :  10.3390/su7054938

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

Sediments in estuary areas are recognized as the ultimate reservoirs for numerous contaminants, e.g., toxic metals. Multivariate analyses by chemometric evaluation were performed to classify metal ions (Cu, Zn, As, Cr, Pb, Ni and Cd) in superficial sediments from Lingdingyang Bay and to determine whether or not there were potential contamination risks based on the BCR sequential extraction scheme. The results revealed that Cd was mainly in acid-soluble form with an average of 75.99% of its total contents and thus of high potential availability, indicating significant anthropogenic sources, while Cr, As, Ni were enriched in the residual fraction which could be considered as the safest ingredients to the environment. According to the proportion of secondary to primary phases (K_RSP), Cd had the highest bioavailable fraction and represented high or very high risk, followed by Pb and Cu with medium risks in most of samples. The combined evaluation of the Pollution Load Index (PLI) and the mean Effect Range Median Quotient (mERM-Q) highlighted that the greatest potential environmental risk area was in the northwest of Lingdingyang Bay. Almost all of the sediments had a 21% probability of toxicity. Additionally, Principal Component Analysis (PCA) revealed that the survey region was significantly affected by two main sources of anthropogenic contributions: PC1 showed increased loadings of variables in acid-soluble and reducible fractions that were consistent with the input from industrial wastes (such as manufacturing, metallurgy, chemical industry) and domestic sewages; PC2 was characterized by increased loadings of variables in residual fraction that could be attributed to leaching and weathering of parent rocks. The results obtained demonstrated the need for appropriate remediation measures to alleviate soil pollution problem due to the more aggregation of potentially risky metals. Therefore, it is of crucial significance to implement the targeted strategies to tackle the contaminated sediments in Lingdingyang Bay.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2015 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.