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Trace metal concentrations in tidal flat coastal sediments, Yamaguchi Prefecture, southwest Japan

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Abstract

Geochemical investigations of tidal flat coastal sediments at Ogori, Ozuki, and Kasado in Yamaguchi Bay of southwest Japan were conducted to determine their metal concentrations and to assess contamination levels, compared with sediment quality guidelines (SQG) and several pollutant indicators. Selected major oxides, trace elements, and total sulfur (TS) were determined by X-ray fluorescence. pH values of most samples were alkaline, indicating anoxic conditions. Average abundances of As, Pb, Zn, Cu, Ni, and Cr in Ozuki sediments were 11, 27, 109, 21, 19, and 52 mg/kg, respectively, compared to 9, 29, 80, 16, 18, and 42 mg/kg at Ogori and 12, 27, 151, 34, 30 and 80 mg/kg at Kasado, respectively. Average concentrations of As, Zn, and Cu in all samples and TiO2, Fe2O3, and P2O5 at Kasado were greater than those of the upper continental crust. Contamination levels were assessed based on SQG, contamination factors (CF), pollution load index (PLI), enrichment factor (EF), and index of geoaccumulation (Igeo). According to the SQG of the US EPA, the sediments were heavily polluted with respect to As, whereas Zn, Cu, Ni, and Cr were classed as moderately polluted. The elevated CF values of As, Pb, and Zn identify moderate to considerable contamination, indicating that these metals are potentially toxic in the study area. Based on PLI and EF, the study sites are moderate to moderately severe polluted with As and Pb, moderately polluted with Zn, and weakly contaminated to noncontaminated with Cu, Ni, and Cr. The highest Igeo values for As, Pb, and Zn in the surface and core sediments reflected the tendency of metal contamination that seems to be related to their fine-grained nature, organic matter-rich sediments, and anthropogenic point sources. Trace metal contents were strongly correlated with Fe2O3 and TiO2, suggesting that Fe oxyhydroxides and detrital clastic load play a role in controlling abundances in the study area.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Professor Toshiaki Irizuki for providing the core samples, Professor Yoshihiro Sawada of Shimane University for access to the XRF facilities and Yuya Shimizu and Erika Sano of Shimane University for their help with sampling. Dr. Barry Roser of Shimane University is acknowledged for his helpful comments on the manuscript.

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  1. Department of Geoscience, Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Shimane University, 1060 Nishikawatsu-Cho, Matsue, 690-8504, Japan

    M. Azadur Rahman & Hiroaki Ishiga

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  1. M. Azadur Rahman
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Rahman, M.A., Ishiga, H. Trace metal concentrations in tidal flat coastal sediments, Yamaguchi Prefecture, southwest Japan. Environ Monit Assess 184, 5755–5771 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-011-2379-x

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