Comparison of trace metal contents of sediments and mussels collected within and outside Tolo Harbour, Hong Kong

Journal Article · · Environmental Management; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02645664· OSTI ID:6943884

Cheung, Y H ^[1]; Wong, M H ^[2]

---

1. City Polytechnic of Hong Kong, Kowloon (Hong Kong)
2. Hong Kong Baptist College, Kowloon (Hong Kong)

Sediments collected from Tap Mun (within Tolo Harbour) and Yim Tin Tsai (outside Tolo Harbour) were extracted sequentially and the copper, cadmium, and chromium contents were determined. Total contents of copper, cadmium, chromium, and arsenic were also detected by acid digestion. The level of heavy metal extracted was higher in sequential extraction (which extracted all forms of metal ions) than total acid digestion. Among the four heavy metals studied, only copper showed a significantly higher (P < 0.001) level in samples collected from Yim Tin Tsai (16.10 mg/kg) than that from Tap Mun (3.19 mg/kg). Such a difference in copper level is mainly attributed to the significantly higher (P < 0.05) levels of copper in the organic, carbonate, and sulfide forms, whereas there was no significant difference (P > 0.05) in the exchangeable and sorbed forms. Green-lipped mussel (Perna viridis) samples collected from the two sites were dissected into seven parts (gill, byssus, siphon, shell, digestive gland, soft tissue, and adductor muscle) and the concentrations of copper, cadmium, chromium, and arsenic were measured.

• OSTI ID: 6943884
• Journal Information: Environmental Management; (United States), Vol. 16:6; ISSN 0364-152X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ARSENIC
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
CADMIUM
CHROMIUM
COPPER
MUSSELS
BIOLOGICAL ACCUMULATION
BIOCHEMISTRY
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BUILDUP
CARCINOGENS
ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURE PATHWAY
FOOD CHAINS
HONG KONG
PACIFIC OCEAN
PUBLIC HEALTH
SEA BED
SEDIMENTS
TOXICITY
TRACE AMOUNTS
WATER POLLUTION
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
ASIA
CHEMISTRY
ELEMENTS
INVERTEBRATES
METALS
MOLLUSCS
POLLUTION
SEAS
SEMIMETALS
SURFACE WATERS
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
560300* - Chemicals Metabolism &amp; Toxicology