Distribution and risk of mercury in the sediments of mangroves along South China Coast

The importance of mangrove was widely reported. However, the potential risks of pollutants (e.g., Hg) accumulated in the mangroves are often ignored. Thus, the present study aimed to explore the distribution and risk of mercury (Hg) in the sediments of mangroves along South China Coast. Results show...

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Published inEcotoxicology (London) Vol. 29; no. 6; pp. 641 - 649
Main Authors Ma, Rui-Fei, Cheng, Hao, Inyang, Aniefiok, Wang, Ming, Wang, You-Shao
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published New York Springer US 01.08.2020
Springer
Springer Nature B.V
Subjects
Automobiles
Contamination
Distribution
Earth and Environmental Science
Ecology
Ecotoxicology
Environment
Environmental Management
Environmental risk
Mangrove swamps
Mangroves
Mercury
Mercury (metal)
Mud flats
Pollutants
Pollution
Pollution index
Regions
Risk management
Sediment
Sediments
Sediments (Geology)
Total organic carbon
Toxicity
China
Mangroves
Intertidal gradient
Mercury
Pollution assessment
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Summary:The importance of mangrove was widely reported. However, the potential risks of pollutants (e.g., Hg) accumulated in the mangroves are often ignored. Thus, the present study aimed to explore the distribution and risk of mercury (Hg) in the sediments of mangroves along South China Coast. Results showed that concentrations of total Hg ranged from 0.0815 to 0.6377 mg/kg, with an arithmetic mean value of 0.2503 mg/kg. The contamination index ( P i ) showed mild pollution toxicity risks in NS, slight toxicity risks in DZG, QZ, SY, ND, GQ, TLG, and free pollutions in BMW, SJ, ZJK and BLHK. NS, DZG and SY scored the highest values of I geo among the eleven mangrove regions studied, indicating moderate to heavy pollution inputs in these regions. As for the distribution of Hg in the sediments along tidal gradient, concentrations of Hg in the sediments sharply increased from seaward mudflat to landward mangrove, corresponding with the increases of TOC. In summary, the present data indicated that mangrove ecosystem is efficient in Hg reservoir. However, the potential ecological risks of Hg, especially in some mangrove regions easily affected by human activities, should be noted.
ISSN:0963-9292
1573-3017
DOI:10.1007/s10646-020-02238-9