Assessment of heavy metals remobilization and release risks at the sediment-water interface in estuarine environment

Abstract

The influence of overlying hydrodynamics on the exchange behaviour and fluxes of heavy metals at the sediment-water interface (SWI) is poorly understood. In the study, metals exchange behaviour and exchange rate at the SWI under resuspended and undisturbed scenario were investigated The results showed that dissolved Cr, Cu, Zn, and Pb concentrations increased rapidly to attain maximum values between 0.3 and 0.5 N·m−2 after the sediment resuspended. Following the quick release, metals concentrations gradually decreased and remained at relatively low levels, especially for Cu and Zn. Meanwhile, Cu, Zn, and Pb had higher potential remobilization potential in the undisturbed case. Calculating with the hydrodynamics in the Modaomen, the metals efflux under the resuspension scenario could reach 0.55 to 4130.83 mg·m−2·yr−1, which were 1–3 orders of magnitudes higher than the undisturbed case. Whether or not resuspension events occurred, estuarine sediments were source of heavy metals, especially in the weakly mixed zone.