Liu et al. 2023 — PTEs in Beibu Gulf Surface Water and Sediment
This peer-reviewed study characterizes the concentrations, distribution, sources, and ecological/health risk of seven potentially toxic elements (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Pb, Zn) in surface seawater and sediment of the eastern Beibu Gulf, China, sampled in spring 2021 (47 seawater sites) and winter 2022 (23 seawater sites, 23 sediment sites). Using PCA and positive matrix factorization (PMF), the authors found PTEs in seawater were primarily of natural origin, with the exception of Hg (predominantly anthropogenic). Sediment PTE concentrations were generally below historical values, indicating acceptable ecological risk for most elements. Significant spatial and seasonal variation was observed in seawater PTE concentrations.
Key numbers
Seawater PTEs (spring 2021, µg/L, descending order): Zn (2.34 ± 1.54) > Cr (1.65 ± 0.17) > Pb (0.912 ± 1.08) > As (0.897 ± 0.168) > Cu (0.836 ± 0.578) > Cd (0.114 ± 0.024) > Hg (0.022 ± 0.010)
Seawater PTEs (winter, µg/L): As (1.28 ± 0.09) > Cd (0.113 ± 0.026) > Cr (1.45 ± 0.33) > Cu (0.941 ± 0.684) > Pb (0.021 ± 0.004) > Zn (0.560 ± 0.542) > Hg (4.58 ± 3.93) — note anomalous Hg winter reading attributed to Vietnam runoff influence at one southwestern station.
All elements met Chinese Category I seawater quality standard (GB 3097-1997) except Pb (28.6% of spring sites and 14.3% of winter sites in Category II).
Sediment: No specific concentration values extracted from first 5 pages; main finding is concentrations generally below historical values.
Methods (brief)
Seawater collected 0.5 m below surface using Teflon sampling bottles. As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, Zn analyzed by ICP-MS (Agilent 7700x). Hg by atomic fluorescence spectrometry (Titan AFS-930). Sediment grab samples 0–5 cm. PCA and PMF5.0 source attribution. Dermal contact health risk pathway assessed (seawater, not food ingestion). Acceptable recovery 85–115%.
Limitations
This paper characterizes marine environmental compartments (seawater and sediment), not food matrices. It is outside the primary scope of the heavy metal food-safety wiki. Health risk assessed is dermal contact from seawater swimming/bathing, not dietary exposure. The paper does not report concentrations in fish or seafood tissue. It is included as contextual supply-chain background on coastal water quality near Chinese fishing areas, not as direct food concentration evidence.
Implications
- Certification: Out of direct scope. Contextual background for seafood supply-chain environmental quality assessments in South China Sea coastal waters.
- Courses: Background context for understanding environmental distribution pathways.
- App: No contamination_profile data applicable; matrix is seawater/sediment, not food.
- Microbiome: Not applicable.