Distribution of heavy metals and radionuclides in the sediments and their environmental impacts in Nansha Sea area, South China Sea

Activity concentrations of radionuclides (238U, 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K) in the sediments eight sampling stations heavy metal (Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Cd, Pb) two long cores from Nansha Sea area were obtained by high-purity germanium spectroscopy inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry. In a correlation analysis between metals, 232Th was positively correlated with As Pb. 238U demonstrated significant positive Cd. 40K Cu. The geo-accumulation index, pollution load potential ecological risk multivariate statistical techniques used to evaluate degree possible sources metals sediments. An assessment suggested that Cr, Pb primarily derived natural processes, while source may be related processes human activities.