Contents and distributions of heavy metals in the surface sediments from northern Beibu Gulf

Contents and distributions of heavy metals in surface sediments from the northern Beibu Gulf were analyzed using atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The results showed that the contents of Cu, Pb, Zn, Cr and Cd were 14.22 similar to 26.68, 31.85 similar to 54.59, 60.19 similar to 90.93, 29.95 similar to 67.95 and 0.030 similar to 0.130 mu g.g(-1), respectively, and average were 18.21, 38.88, 78.00, 48.46 and 0.09 mu g.g(-1). The reducing environments in northern Beibu Gulf were attributed to organic matters and sulfide. The distributions of heavy metals showed the trend of higher along the coastal area and lower in the offshore area, generally controlled by terrestrial inputs, as well as hydrological conditions, depositional environments and so on.