Abstract
The concentrations of heavy metals in sediments and marine organisms in Daya Bay were investigated, and the Monte Carlo method was used to analyze the uncertainty of the results of geo-accumulation characteristics and ecological and health risks. The mean concentrations of metal elements in sediments were in the following order: Zn > Cr > Cu > As > Cd > Hg, while those in marine organisms were Zn > Cu > As > Cr ≈ Cd > Hg. The geo-accumulation index (Igeo) indicated that the primary pollutant was Hg, with 5.46% moderately polluted, and 39.52% for unpolluted to moderately polluted. Potential ecological risks (RI) were between low and high risks, and the contributions of Hg, Cd, and As to ecological risks were 50.85%, 33.92%, and 11.47%, respectively. The total hazard coefficients (THQ) were less than 1, but on the basis of total carcinogenic risks (TCR), the probability of children and adults exceeded the unacceptable risk threshold of 22.27% and 11.19%, respectively. Sensitivity analysis results showed that the concentrations of carcinogenic elements contributed to risk in the order of As > Cd > Cr. Therefore, in order to effectively control heavy metals contamination in Daya Bay, it is necessary to strengthen the management of Hg, Cd, and As emissions.
Highlights
IntroductionThe impact of heavy metal pollution on the sustainability of biogeochemical cycles and ecological risks has received increasing global attention [1]
Received: 30 November 2020Accepted: 22 December 2020Published: 25 December 2020Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.license
IR and BW, exposure time parameters (e.g., EF, ED, and AT) and toxicity criteria of heavy metals (e.g., Rf D and SF) could have been changed, the current study only considered the impact of exposed heavy metal concentrations on risks, other exposure parameters were single-point inputs
Summary
The impact of heavy metal pollution on the sustainability of biogeochemical cycles and ecological risks has received increasing global attention [1]. When heavy metals enter the aquatic environment, they eventually accumulate in sediments, so sediments are usually used as a main medium for evaluating heavy metal pollution [3]. Due to the enrichment and amplification of heavy metals in marine organisms, seafood that originally provided the human body with abundant protein may become a carrier of concentrated poisons, thereby endangering human health [7,8,9,10,11]. Identifying the concentration distribution of heavy metals in sediments and marine organisms and assessing the ecological and health risks under heavy metal exposure are of great significance to the protection of biological habitats and human safety
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