Spatial variations in depth-distribution of trace metals in coastal wetland sediments from Quanzhou Bay, Fujian Province, China

Four short cores were obtained from the coastal wetland of the Quanzhou Bay, Fujian Province, China, and sediment samples were analyzed with a Mastersizer 2000 for grain size analysis and an Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometer (ICP-AES) for trace metal analysis. The results of grain size analysis show that the wetland sediments are mainly composed of silt and clay, and the distribution of median grain size is affected by human activities obviously. The results of trace metal analysis show that the wetland sediments mainly originate from terrestrial materials in the Luoyangjiang River estuary and from contaminants discharged from adjacent rivers in Shuitou area. The heavy metal contamination in Luoyangjiang estuary decreased from 1984 to 2004 due to industry transformation, but has increased since 2004 because of the discharge of contaminants to the Jinjiang River and much living sewerage to the bay, and a large number of trace metals are trapped within Spartina alterniflora marsh.