Evaluation of Cadmium Concentrations in the Surface Sediments of Salt River Estuary, Taiwan

Abstract

Major objectives of this study are to evaluation the pollution and potential ecological risk of cadmium (Cd) in the sediments of Salt River estuary, Taiwan. Nine monitoring stations were installed near the estuary of Salt River to collect sediment samples for analyzing Cd. Results of laboratory analyses show that contents of Cd in the sediments are between 0.25 and 2.54 mg/kg with an average of 1.05±0.85 mg/kg. The spatial distribution of Cd reveals that the Cd concentration is relatively high near the river mouth, and gradually diminishes toward the harbor region. This indicates that upstream industrial and municipal wastewater discharges along the river bank are major sources of pollution. Results from the enrichment factor analysis imply that the sediments can be characterized as minor to severe degree of Cd enrichment. Results of geo-accumulation index analysis indicate that the sediments can be characterized as moderate degree of Cd accumulation. Results of potential ecological risk index indicate that the sediments at Salt River estuary has high to serious ecological potential risk.



Author Information
Cheng-Di Dong, National Kaohsiung Marine University, Taiwan

Paper Information
Conference: ACSEE2013
Stream: Sustainability

This paper is part of the ACSEE2013 Conference Proceedings (View)
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To cite this article:
Dong C. (2013) Evaluation of Cadmium Concentrations in the Surface Sediments of Salt River Estuary, Taiwan ISSN: 2186-2311 – The Asian Conference on Sustainability, Energy and the Environment 2013 – Official Conference Proceedings https://doi.org/10.22492/2186-2311.20130283
To link to this article: https://doi.org/10.22492/2186-2311.20130283


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Posted by James Alexander Gordon