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Abstract
A systematic study was conducted on the distribution characteristics of heavy metals
and on associated influencing factors in sediments off the southern coast of the Shandong
Peninsula, China, based on the results of a heavy metals analysis on 157 surface sediment
samples from coastal waters of the study area and on 46 samples from surrounding rivers
flowing into the sea. An environmental quality assessment of heavy metals was performed
using the Nemerow index. The results show that the distribution characteristics of
sediment heavy metals in coastal waters outside of Qingdao can be divided into three
classes: (1) Class I - Cr, Cu and Zn, with high-value areas extending from the northeast
to the southwest in a banded or tongue-like pattern; (2) Class II - As, Cd and Pb,
with high-value areas mainly distributed off the southeastern coast of Mt. Lao; and
(3) Class III - Hg only, with high-value areas mainly in the northern area of Jiaozhou
Bay. Integrated assessment based on the Nemerow index reveals that heavy metals pollution
has occurred in surface sediments in a number of coastal water areas outside of Qingdao.
This pollution is mainly found off the southeastern coast of Mt. Lao and in the northeastern
section of Jiaozhou Bay. Results show that grain size of surface sediments, surrounding
rivers and human activities are the main reasons for the element distribution pattern.