ASSESSMENT OF CHROMIUM CONTAMINATION IN SEDIMENTS OF SOUTHERN KAOHSIUNG HARBOR, TAIWAN

Abstract

Major objectives of this study are to evaluate the enrichment, accumulation, and potential ecological risk of chromium (Cr) in the surface sediments of southern Kaohsiung Harbor, Taiwan. Twelve sampling locations were installed of southern Kaohsiung Harbor to collect sediment samples for analyzing Cr. Results showed that the Cr concentrations varied from 13.4-265.7 mg/kg with an average of 53.2±71.2 mg/kg. The spatial distribution of Cr reveals that the Cr concentration is relatively high in the river mouth region, especially in Jen-Gen River, and gradually diminishes toward the harbor entrance region. This indicates that upstream industrial and municipal wastewater discharges along the river bank are major sources of Cr pollution. Results from the enrichment factor and geo-accumulation index analyses imply that the sediments collected from the river mouth can be characterized between severe and very severe degree enrichment and between moderately strong and strong to very strong accumulation of Cr, respectively. However, results of potential ecological risk index indicate that the sediment has low ecological potential risk.