The concentration distribution and pollution assessment of heavy metals in surface sediments of the Bohai Bay, China

Three hundred five surface sediment samples from the Bohai Bay in northeastern China were examined for grain size, organic carbon (Corg) concentration, and concentrations of heavy metals (Pb, Zn, Cu, As, Cr, Cd, and Hg). Average metal concentrations were 33 mg/kg (Cu), 27 mg/kg (Pb), 95 mg/kg (Zn), 75 mg/kg (Cr), 0.3 mg/kg (Cd), 13 mg/kg (As), and 72 μg/kg (Hg). In most cases, these concentrations were lower than the China Marine Sediment...