Abstract
Surface soils (0–20 cm) were collected at five sampling sites along a 250-m sampling zone perpendicular to a tidal creek in the T. chinensis wetland of the Yellow River Delta of China in June, August and November of 2007 and April of 2008. Soils were assessed for the spatial and temporal distributions of metals (As, Ni, Cr, Zn, Pb, Cd and Cu) and the potential risk to the T. chinensis wetland. Our results showed that the mean contents for all metals exceeded the background values of the Yellow River Delta, except for Pb and Zn. Arsenic content exceeded the probable effect level values at all sampling sites during the four periods. A multivariate analysis indicated that As, Cd, Pb and Zn were derived from the same origin, Cr and Ni mainly originated from parent rocks, whereas Cu and Pb have another same origin. The geoaccumulation index (I geo ) indicated that there was no Cu, Pb or Cr pollution at five sampling sites during all sampling periods. The average toxic units (TU) of metals in this region followed the order As > Ni > Cr > Zn > Pb > Cd > Cu. Three metals contributed more to the ∑TUs (sum of the toxic units) than other metals, as follows: As (40 %), Ni (20 %) and Cr (20 %).
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