Distribution and pollution assessment of the heavy metals Pb,Cu,Zn and Cr in the Xinyanggang tidal flat
江苏新洋港潮滩湿地重金属元素Pb、Cu、Zn、Cr分布特征及污染评价

The heavy metals Pb,Cu,Zn and Cr were analyzed in surface samples and core samples collected in the center of the Xinyanggang tidal area,and the overall heavy metal pollution and elemental distribution were studied.The geoaccumulation index,element accumulation index and potential ecological risk index are applied in this study.The following conclusions were obtained:1) The distribution of Pb,Cu,Zn and Cr follow the same trend in the Xinyanggang area.After standardizing the data,the distribution trend remained the same,but being less in changing scopes.2)The contents of Pb,Cu,Zn and Cr in the area decline from the upper tidal flat to the lower tidal flat,but at different rates.The content of Cu,Ni and Zn declines rapidly,while Cr and Pb change slowly.3)Compared with the average levels of Pb and Cr in sediments along the Chinese coast,local Pb and Cr appear to be highly accumulated,which reveals the heavy pollution in the Xinyanggang area.4)The risk index(RI) was 23.552 locally,which indicates a weak ecological risk in the area and the environmental quality remains good.