Effects of reclamation on heavy metal pollution in a coastal wetland reserve.

Owing to accelerating reclamation activities in the coastal wetland reserves, it is of great importance to analyze the effects of wetland reclamation on heavy metal pollution in these areas. Soil samples were collected from reclamation and natural habitats in Yancheng National Nature Reserve for Coastal Rare Birds in Jiangsu, China to investigate the effects of reclamation on the total amounts, availability, and vertical distribution of seven elemental heavy-metal pollutants. In general, the total amount and availability each element were relatively low in the two habitats and were classified as “no pollution”. Reclamation was found to significantly increase the total amount of As, Cu, and Zn as well as the pollution degrees of As, Cr, and Zn. The availability of Cu, Pb, Cd, and Cr can also be significantly affected by reclamation. Furthermore, surface-accumulation patterns of the total amounts of these heavy metals could be observed in both habitats, and the availabilities of these elements were higher in deeper soils. Reclamation also had significant impacts on the vertical distribution of Cu, Pb, Cd, and Zn. It is essential to properly monitor nearby aquacultural activities, freshwater irrigation, and traffic pollution during plant harvest to alleviate the negative effects of these human activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]