Distribution and contamination assessment of arsenic and mercury in surface sediments from the intertidal zone of Yantai Sishili Bay, China

摘要

Sixty surface sediment samples from the intertidal zone of Yantai Sishili Bay (YSB) have been analyzed for arsenic (As) and mercury (Hg) to evaluate their contamination levels and potential ecological risks. Concentrations of As and Hg ranged from 7.01-23.56 and 0.00-0.01g g(-1) in the dry season; during the wet season, the corresponding data were 1.44-6.17 and 0.00-0.02g g(-1). The geoaccumulation index (I-geo) and potential ecological risk index (E-r(i)) were used to conduct a pollution assessment. The results demonstrated that the intertidal zone of YSB has good sediment quality and that As and Hg are not likely to cause negative environmental impacts in the region.