Distribution of Heavy Metals in Surface Sediments of a Tropical Mangrove Wetlands in Hainan, China, and Their Biological Effectiveness

The distribution and ecological risk of heavy metals in sediments were studied through the systematic collection and analysis of mangrove wetland sediments in Dongzhai Harbor, Hainan. The main insights obtained were as follows: (1) The distribution characteristics and influencing factors of heavy metals in wetland sediments were analyzed by using the inverse-distance weight interpolation method. In terms of spatial distribution, the contents of heavy metals As, Ba, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sr, Ti, and Zn in the western part of the wetland were significantly higher than in the eastern part. The contents of heavy metals Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Hg, Mn, Ni, Zn, and Ti near the anthropogenic area were significantly higher than at other points. (2) The pollution sources and ecological risks of heavy metals in wetland sediments were explored by using correlation analysis, cluster analysis, and potential ecological risk index analysis. The results showed that As, Ba, Pb, and Sr mainly originated from natural processes; Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Ti, and Zn mainly originated from industry; and agricultural heavy metals mainly originated from Cd and Hg. The ecological risk analysis showed that there were obvious ecological risks of heavy metals in the western and southeastern corners of the wetland, which were both located in the vicinity of land far away from the coastline and near the human activities, and featured mangrove forests with dense vegetation characteristics.