Salinity influence correction for zinc ion seawater quality criteria and ecological risk assessment in Chinese seas

• Published in: The Science of the total environment Vol. 949; p. 174835
• Main Authors: Xu, Jia-yin, Zhang, Heng, Pu, Xin-Ming, Li, Qing-wei, Pan, Jin-Fen, Yan, Zhen-Guang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01.11.2024
• Subjects: Joint probability curve; Marine ecosystem; Monte Carlo random sampling; Salinity correction; Species sensitivity distribution; Zinc management; Zinc management; Species sensitivity distribution; Monte Carlo random sampling; Marine ecosystem; Joint probability curve; Salinity correction
• ISSN: 0048-9697; 1879-1026; 1879-1026
• DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.174835

The increasing prevalence of zinc pollution in marine ecosystems, primarily from industrial sources, has become a global environmental concern. This study addresses zinc toxicity in Chinese coastal waters, emphasizing the importance of considering environmental factors like salinity and temperature in establishing water quality criteria (WQC). Data collected from various marine regions underwent meticulous analysis, incorporating salinity corrections to derive more precise criteria values. The short-term criteria for the Bohai Sea, Yellow Sea, East China Sea, and South China Sea were 94.0, 77.6, 84.2, and 118 μg/L under the salinity correction, respectively, and the long-term criteria was 4.10 μg/L. Ecological risk assessments employing diverse methodologies revealed varying levels of risk across sea areas, underscoring the nuanced nature of zinc pollution's impact on marine ecosystems. Greater acute and chronic risk of zinc ions observed in the Yellow Sea region. These findings underscore the imperative need for tailored management strategies to protect local marine life from the environmental threats posed by zinc. [Display omitted] •Significant influence of salinity on Zn toxicity and WQC in marine environments•Effective correction of salinity on Zn toxicity and WQC by Least squares regression•Establishment of salinity-corrected short-term WQC for Zn in four major Chinese seas•Comprehensive short- and long-term four-tier ecological risk assessment carried out•Greater acute and chronic risk of zinc ions observed in the Yellow Sea region