Abstract: The distribution and enrichment characteristics of seven dispersed elements ( Ga, Ge, Rb, Tl, Cd, Te and Se ) in the surface sediments around Hainan Island waters were analyzed and their correlations with sediment grain size, total organic carbon and organic nitrogen were also studied. Nemerow Comprehensive Evaluation Index and Pollution Load Index methods were used respectively to preliminarily evaluate the contamination of these elements. The results show that the dispersed elements enrichment has close relation with sediment grain size, organic carbon and organic nitrogen content. Except Te, the other six kinds of dispersed elements have shown high enrichment in silt or clay sediments, and they tend to concentrate in the sediment where organic carbon and organic nitrogen contents are high. In general, the dispersed element pollution degree is a slight, but in some sediments (such as the sediments from northwest, west, southeast coastal waters and from Lingshui and Sanya waters of Hainan Island), the pollution reaches to the moderate degree, indicating that these areas have been impacted by human activities seriously, which should attract the attention of the competent authorities for the marine environment protection.

Key words: Hainan Island, coastal sediments, dispersed elements, pollution assessment