Distribution features and evaluation on potential ecological risk of heavy metals in surface sediments of Weihai Bay

This paper reported the distributions and enrichment of heavy metals(Cu,Zn,Pb,Cd,Hg,As[CY1]) in the surface sediments of the Weihai Bay.In addition,the method of potential ecological risk index devised by Lars Hakanson was used to assess the ecological risks of these elements.The results showed that the contents of Cu,Zn,Pb,and Hg gradually decreased from the northwest to the southeast;Cd appeared higher in the west of the Bay and decreased from the west to the east;and As distributed uniformly,and appeared higher at nearshore of the inner bay but lower at the bay mouth.The risk levels for these heavy elements in this area were light.The pollution degree of these heavy elements in the surface sediments of the Weihai Bay was in the order of CdAsHgPbCuZn,with Cd being the potential impact element for the ecological environment of the Weihai Bay.