Speciation and risk of heavy metals in sediments and human health implications of heavy metals in edible nekton in Beibu Gulf, China: A case study of Qinzhou Bay

• Published in: Marine pollution bulletin 2015-12, Vol.101 (2), p.852-859
• Main Authors: Gu, Yang-Guang, Lin, Qin, Yu, Zi-Ling, Wang, Xu-Nuo, Ke, Chang-Liang, Ning, Jia-Jia
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Bays; Chemical speciation; China; Ecological risk; Environmental Monitoring - methods; Food Contamination - analysis; Geologic Sediments - analysis; Human health risk; Marine; Metals; Metals, Heavy - analysis; Metals, Heavy - toxicity; Nekton; Principal Component Analysis; Risk Assessment - methods; Seafood; Sediment analysis; Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis; Water Pollutants, Chemical - toxicity
• ISSN: 0025-326X; 1879-3363
• DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2015.11.019

We investigated the total concentrations of heavy metals in surface sediments and nekton, along with sediment metal chemical partitioning in Qinzhou Bay of the Beibu Gulf. Cd was preferentially associated with the acid-soluble fraction and Pb mainly with the reducible fraction, whereas a major portion of Cr, Ni, Cu, and Zn was strongly associated with the residual fractions. A principal component analysis (PCA) in sediment metal speciation revealed three groupings (Cd; Pb; Cr, Ni, Cu, and Zn) that mainly resulted from different distributions of the metals in the various fractions. The Cr concentrations in nekton species were higher than maximum Cr concentrations permitted by the Chinese National Standard (GB 2762-2012). Taking as a whole, surface sediments of Qinzhou Bay had a 21% incidence calculation of adverse biological effects, based on the mean probable-effects-levels quotient. A human health risk assessment indicated no significant adverse health effects from consumption of nekton. [Display omitted] •The surface sediments of Qinzhou Bay were polluted by Cd, Pb and Cu.•Cd was preferentially associated with acid soluble and Pb mainly with the reducible fraction.•Surface sediment had a 21% probability of toxicity.•The Cr in nekton may be potential risk to human.•There is no obvious health risk from the intake of metals through nekton consumption.