Abstract：
Coastal heavy-metal contamination poses significant risks to marine ecosystems and human health, necessitating comprehensive research for effective mitigation strategies. This study assessed heavy-metal pollution in sediments, seawater, and organisms in the Pearl River Estuary (PRE), with a focus on Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn, As, Hg, and Cr. A notable reduction in heavy metal concentrations in surface sediments was observed in 2020 compared to 2017 and 2018, likely due to improved pollution management and COVID-19 pandemic restrictions. Spatial analysis revealed a positive correlation between elevated heavy-metal concentrations (Cu, Pb, Zn, Cd, and As) and areas with significant human activity. Source analysis indicated that anthropogenic activities accounted for 63 % of the heavy metals in sediments, originating from industrial effluents, metal processing, vehicular activities, and fossil fuel combustion. Cd presented a high ecological risk due to its significant enrichment in surface sediments. Organisms in the PRE were found to be relatively enriched with Hg and Cu, with average As concentrations slightly exceeding the Chinese food-health criterion. This study identified high-risk ecological zones and highlighted Cd as the primary pollutant in the PRE. The findings demonstrate the effectiveness of recent pollution control measures and emphasize the need for ongoing monitoring and mitigation to safeguard marine ecosystems and human health.
摘要：
沿海重金属污染对海洋生态系统和人类健康构成重大风险，需要对有效的缓解策略进行全面研究。这项研究评估了沉积物中的重金属污染，海水,和珠江口（PRE）的生物，专注于Cd，Cu,Pb,Zn,As,Hg,和Cr。与2017年和2018年相比，2020年表层沉积物中重金属浓度显着下降，这可能是由于污染管理的改善和COVID-19大流行限制。空间分析显示，重金属浓度升高(Cu，Pb,Zn,Cd,和As)和人类活动显著的地区。来源分析表明，人为活动占沉积物中重金属的63％，源自工业废水，金属加工,车辆活动,和化石燃料燃烧。由于Cd在表层沉积物中的大量富集，因此具有很高的生态风险。发现PRE中的生物相对富含Hg和Cu，平均As浓度略高于中国食品卫生标准。这项研究确定了高风险生态区，并强调了Cd是PRE中的主要污染物。调查结果证明了最近的污染控制措施的有效性，并强调需要不断监测和缓解以保护海洋生态系统和人类健康。
