Distribution and contamination assessment of heavy metals in surface sediments of the Luanhe River Estuary, northwest of the Bohai Sea

33 surface sediment samples from the Luanhe River Estuary have been analyzed for heavy metals to evaluate the spatial distribution pattern and their potential ecological risk. Higher metal concentrations were found in the river mouth and southern areas where being covered by fine particulate matters. In comparison with the threshold effect level and the probable effect level, Cu, Pb, Cr, Ni, and As had occasionally adverse biological effects on the aquatic ecosystems. Both the enrichment factor and geoaccumulation index values show that all the regions have been weakly polluted by Pb, Hg, As, and Cd with an exception of being moderately to strongly polluted by Hg in the river mouth and southern areas. The sources of Zn, Ni, Cd, Hg, and Cr were mainly from the river input and coastal discharge, whereas Cu, Pb, and As were mainly derived from vehicle emissions, coal and oil combustion. •8 heavy metals were analyzed in Luanhe River Estuary.•The estuary sediments were mainly weakly polluted by Pb, Hg, As and Cd.•The river mouth and southern area were moderately to strongly polluted by Hg.•Zn, Ni, Cd, Hg and Cr were mainly from the river input and coastal discharge.•Cu, Pb and As were mainly derived from vehicle emissions, coal and oil combustion.