Distribution patterns and potential ecological risk evaluation of heavy metals in the surface sediments of Beibu Gulf

The contents and distribution patterns of the heavy metals including Cu, Pb, Zn, Cd, As and Hg in the surface sediments of Beibu Gulf have been analyzed to understand the current pollution situation and the eclogical risk in Beibu Gulf. Hakanson's Potential Ecological Risk factors and indices were used to assess the potential ecological risk of heavy metals to marine ecosystem in Beibu gulf. The results showed that the contents of Cu,Pb,Zn,As and Cd were low, but in some sites Hg was higher than National Marine Sediments of I Quality Standard. The distribution trend of all the six heavy metals was similar in Leizhou Peninsula, Northwest and South Hainan Island, and the high value zone appeared in the vicinity of Dongfang City. The results of principal component analysis showed that the three major sources of heavy metals contamination were industrial wastewater, agricultural wastewater and degradation of organic matter, with the first three principal components contribution rates of 47.13%, 18.44% and 18.35%. The potential ecological risk of heavy metals for the single element shows that the potential ecological risk order of these heavy metals is Hg＞Cd＞As＞Pb＞Cu＞Zn.And the potential ecological risk of As, Pb, Cu, Zn and Pb is minor, and the potential ecological risk of Hg is great. The comprehensive analysis of potential ecological risk of heavy metals show that Beibu gulf is of intermediate level, while some areas have reached strong level. The estuary of Changhua River has the lowest sediment environmental quality, and more attention must be paid to these areas.