Sediment Quality Assessment for Heavy Metal Contamination in the Dongzhai Harbor (Hainan Island, China) with Pollution Indice Approach

Abstract

This study concerns the distribution and potential sources of elevated heavy metal concentrations (Cu, Zn, Pb, Cd, As) in surface sediments of the Dongzhai Harbor, Hainan Island,a national important mangrove ecosystem protection area.It was found that the pollution of As may occur occasional biological effect by numerical Sediment Quality Guidelines. Further, Geoaccumulation indices (I geo ) suggest there are serious pollution levels of As at all five stations. Spatial distribution of ecotoxicological index and pollution load index suggested that most of the surface sediments have a 9% probability of being toxic and the potential ecological risk zone appear in northern and southern of Dongzhai Harbor. Correlation analysis, principal component analysis, and cluster analysis showed that these metals primarily originate from natural sources. As and Pb resulted primarily from aquaculture, and combustion of gasoline and diesel fuel by ships. The present study provides a baseline record of heavy metals in mangrove surface sediments on the Dongzhai Harbor, and provide a useful aid for sustainable marine management in this region.