摘要：Based on the data for heavy metals in the surface sediments of Meizhou Bay from 2007 to 2015, this study analysed the multi-annual average concentrations and inter-annual variations of seven heavy metals (Cu, Pb, Zn, Cd, Cr, Hg, and As) and assessed the environmental quality with respect to the degree of contamination using the single factor index, geoaccumulation index and potential ecological risk index. In terms of their inter-annual variation trends, the concentrations of Cu and Hg slightly increased, whereas those of Pb, Zn, Cd, Cr, and As decreased overall. The results obtained using the single factor, geo-accumulation and potential ecological risk indexes all indicated that Cd was the main contamination factor in the surface sediments of Meizhou Bay, whereas the results acquired via the potential ecological risk index demonstrated that the potential ecological risk of Hg was the second highest contamination factor.
关键词：Surface sediment;Heavy metals;Inter-annual variations;Environmental quality assessment;Meizhou Bay
