Potentially toxic elements in surface sediments of the Beibu Gulf, South Sea, China: Occurrence, bioavailability and probabilistic risk assessment

Qiongyuan Su; Yanan Cheng; Liangliang Huang; Shuwen Zhao; Jie Ma; Shijie Song; Nan Li; Hao Xu; Caiguang Wang

doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.117091

Potentially toxic elements in surface sediments of the Beibu Gulf, South Sea, China: Occurrence, bioavailability and probabilistic risk assessment

Mar Pollut Bull. 2024 Dec;209(Pt A):117091. doi: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.117091. Epub 2024 Oct 10.

Authors

Qiongyuan Su¹, Yanan Cheng², Liangliang Huang³, Shuwen Zhao², Jie Ma², Shijie Song², Nan Li⁴, Hao Xu², Caiguang Wang²

Affiliations

¹ College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guilin University of Technology, Guilin 541004, China; Guangxi Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Control Theory and Technology, Guilin 541004, China.
² College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guilin University of Technology, Guilin 541004, China.
³ College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guilin University of Technology, Guilin 541004, China; Guangxi Collaborative Innovation Center for Water Pollution Control and Water Safety in Karst Areas, Guilin 541004, China. Electronic address: llhuang@glut.edu.cn.
⁴ Key Laboratory of Climate, Resources and Environment in Continental Shelf Sea and Deep Sea of Department of Education of Guangdong Province, Department of Oceanography, Key Laboratory for Coastal Ocean Variation and Disaster Prediction, College of Ocean and Meteorology, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China.

PMID: 39393240
DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.117091

Abstract

At present, pollution of gulf sediments with potentially toxic elements (PTEs) has become a prominent marine environmental problem. This study thoroughly investigated the occurrence, bioavailability, and probabilistic risk of PTEs in the surface sediments of the Beibu Gulf. The average total concentrations (mg/kg) were 8.03 for As, 0.06 for Cd, 52.73 for Cr, 9.86 for Cu, 0.04 for Hg, 18.70 for Ni, 27.77 for Pb and 59.80 for Zn, respectively. The positive matrix factorization model revealed that the PTE enrichment was primarily due to composite sources from aquaculture and fisheries activities, industrial and agricultural sources. Risk assessment code and correlation analysis indicated that Cd had the highest bioavailability, influenced by TOC and TP. The probabilistic risk assessment model estimated a 60.83 % probability that the mixed PTEs in the Beibu Gulf's surface sediments could have toxic effects on aquatic life. These findings underscore the impact of intensive human activities on PTE pollution and highlight the need for further research on PTE ecotoxicology and pollution control strategies.

Keywords: Beibu Gulf; Bioavailability; Combined toxicity; Potentially toxic elements; Sediment.

MeSH terms

China
Environmental Monitoring*
Geologic Sediments* / chemistry
Metals, Heavy / analysis
Risk Assessment
Water Pollutants, Chemical* / analysis

Substances

Water Pollutants, Chemical
Metals, Heavy