Work

Field Determination and Ecological Risk Assessment of Trace Metals in the Seawater of the Shandong Peninsula, China

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Coastal marine ecosystems are facing serious ecological risks from metals pollution, threatening biodiversity and human health. The main objective of this study is to evaluate the spatial distributions and ecological risks of dissolved cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), and copper (Cu) in the Shandong Peninsula coastal areas, China. Two sampling campaigns were conducted at 21 sites in early spring 2025 to measure the concentrations of the three trace metals in the study area using an electrochemical detection system. The results revealed higher metals concentrations in nearshore areas (e.g., port entrances, aquaculture zones, and estuaries). Specifically, the Cd, Pb, and Cu concentrations in the study area ranged from 0 to 0.079 µg L−1, 0.30 to 0.84 µg L−1, and 2.19 to 4.79 µg L−1, with average concentrations of 0.033, 0.55, and 3.18 µg L−1, respectively. The contamination factors (Cf) of the three metals were below 1, indicating low pollution levels and thus meeting China’s Class I seawater quality standard. However, the ecological risk assessment, employing complementary methods, revealed varying interpretations: the risk quotient (RQ), based on species sensitivity distribution and predicted no-effect concentrations (PNECs), indicated low risks associated with Cd and Pb (RQ < 0.1) but a high risk for Cu (RQ > 1) at all sites, attributable to the exceedance of Cu’s protective threshold (0.46 µg L−1), despite its low Cf. These findings highlight the need for continuous monitoring of Cu due to its high ecological impacts. In contrast, the Hakanson potential ecological risk index (ERI), which incorporates toxicity coefficients, suggested overall low risks (ERI < 150) for the combined metals; however, Cd contributed approximately 70% to the ERI due to its high toxicity coefficient, warranting attention despite the low individual Eri values for Cd across the study area. This study provides valuable recent data on metals pollution dynamics in the Shandong Peninsula coastal areas, offering a scientific basis for developing marine pollution control policies and sustainable marine resource management.

Source: Journal of Marine Science and Engineering

DOI: 10.3390/jmse13091672

Authors: Yongsheng Luan, Zhiwei Zhang, Bin Gong, Dawei Pan

Institutions: Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences

Language: English

Topic: Heavy metals in environment

Subfield: Pollution

Field: Environmental Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,137

Funders: Texas Space Grant Consortium, National Key Research and Development Program of China