Mini review of trace metal contamination status in East China Sea sediment

Abstract

This study reviewed the published papers and employed the guideline values of USEPA (ERL and ERM) and China (MSQ, Class I, II, III) to assess the contamination status of potential toxic metals in East China Sea sediment (ECS). The percentages of metal concentrations exceeding the ERL value follow the sequences: Ni (96%) > As(71%) > Cr(53%) > Cu (19%) > Zn (2.4%) > Hg (0.5%) > Pb (0.4%) > Cd (0%). The similar ranking is also seen for MSQ class I. All metal concentrations were less than the ERM value, except Ni of which value 10.3% exceeded the ERM value. The potentially ecological risk from these sedimentary metals could be reduced because they were mainly present in the residual fraction, which is not available for marine organisms. It seems that the Ni ERL value is too low (20.8. mg kg(-1)), close to the value (18.6 mg kg(-1)) of the upper continental crust, to obey.