Nutrient distribution and structure affect the behavior and speciation of arsenic in coastal waters: A case study in southwestern coast of the Laizhou Bay, China

Abstract

The effects of nutrient distribution and structure on the behavior and speciation of dissolved inorganic arsenic (DIAs) in coastal waters were analyzed based on the data of 48 surface water samples collected in the southwestern coast of Laizhou Bay and its adjacent rivers (SWLZB). The concentration of DIAs in the SWLZB ranged from 0.016 to 0.099 μmol l−1 and generally decreased from west to south. The inshore waters exhibited higher DIAs level than the open ocean. The As5+/As3+ ratio was significantly positively correlated with the concentration of TDN, NO3-N, PO4-P, DSi, Chl-a and DO. The concentration of DIAs was strongly correlated with the concentration of PO4-P and DSi, suggesting that adsorption/desorption was an important process for regulating the total DIAs concentration. The results indicated that the distribution of nutrients might well be an important environmental factor affecting the speciation and behavior of DIAs in surface water of the SWLZB.