Distribution patterns of particle-reactive radionuclides in sediments off eastern Hainan Island, China: Implications for source and transport pathways

The study of sediment sources and transport processes from land to ocean can help in predicting the fate of the pollutants released from land or the potential change in sediment delivery to coastal areas and/or open oceans. The activities of 7Be, excess 210Pb (210Pbxs), excess 234Th (234Thxs) and 137Cs in surface sediments collected offshore of eastern Hainan Island, China, in August of 2008 were measured by an HPGe γ-spectrometer to evaluate the sediment source and transport processes. The results showed that all the surface sediments were silt or sand, and the mean grain sizes of the northern locations were higher than those in the other regions. The ranges of activities of 7Be, 210Pbxs, 234Thxs and 137Cs in surface sediment were 0.14–12.7, 37.4–199, 2.24–176 and 0.02–1.06 Bq kg−1, with averages of 3.78±4.77, 110±8.1, 66.7±8.9 and 0.52±0.22 Bq kg−1, respectively. The activities of the radionuclides increased from coast to offshore in the northern section. The upwelling may cause high particle fluxes with high activities of 210Pbxs and 234Thxs. A comparison of the source and transport of the suspended sediments with river discharge along the coast shows that the coastal current and offshore upwelling are the dominant factors for the transport and sources of surface sediment in the study region. The sediment was transported from south to north by the coastal current, and sediments with a large grain size may be deposited via the north loop current. The ratios of the nuclide activities indicated that the suspended particles need approximately one year to be removed from the water column into the seabed and that the main source of the sediments off eastern Hainan Island in the study regions was terrigenous deposits.

► The source and transport of sediment can be characterized by radionuclides.
► The coastal current and upwelling strongly affect the sediment transport.
► The removal mechanisms of particle-reactive nuclides are different.
► The suspended particles need approximately one year to be removed into the seabed.