『Abstract
Grain size parameters, trace metals (Co, Cu, Ni, Pb, Cr, Zn,
Ba, Zr and Sr) and total organic matter (TOM) of 38 surficial
sediments and a sediment core of west-four Pearl River Estuary
region were analyzed. The spatial distribution and the transportation
procession of the chemical element in surficial sediments were
studied mainly. Multivariate statistics are used to analyses the
interrelationship of metal elements, TOM and the grain size parameters.
The results demonstrated that terrigenous sediment taken by the
rivers are main sources of the trace metal elements and TOM, and
the lithology of parent material is a dominating factor controlling
the trace metal composition in the surficial sediment. In addition,
the hydrodynamic condition and landform are the dominating factors
controlling the large-scale distribution, while the anthropogenic
input in the coastal area alters the regional distribution of
heavy metal elements Co, Cu, Ni, Pb, Cr and Zn. The enrichment
factor (EF) analysis was used for the differentiation of the metal
source between anthropogenic and naturally occurring, and for
the assessment of the anthropogenic influence, the deeper layer
content of heavy metals were calculated as the background values
and Zr was chosen as the reference element for Co, Cu, No, Pb,
Cr and Zn. The result indicate prevalent enrichment of Co, Cu,
Ni, Pb and Cr, and the contamination of Pb is most obvious, further
more, the peculiar high EF value sites of Zn and Pb probably suggest
point source input.
Keywords: West-four Pearl River Estuary; Surficial sediment; Heavy
metals; Depositional environment; Enrichment factor (EF)』
Introduction
Materials and methods
Setting and sampling
Analysis methods
Analyses of metal elements
Analyses of total organic matter
Analyses of grain size parameters
Statistical analyses
Results
Grain size
Metal elements and organic matter
Discussion
Grain size factors
Hydrodynamics factors
Chemical factors and source identification
Anthropogenic contribution and assessment of heavy metals
Conclusions
Acknowledgments
Appendix
References