| Abstrakt: |
The influence of anthropogenic activities on pollution of trace metals (TMs) during the last few decades in the lower reaches of the Yell ow River was reconstructed with sediment cores in the present study. The results showed that As, Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn averaged 7.65, 0.10, 26.39, 45.83 and 48.33 mg/kg in Core C 1 located in Gaocun in Heze city, and 8.54, 0.135, 33.2, 39.1 and 58.5 mg/kg in Core C2 located in Luokou in Jinan city. Therefore, the levels of TMs in Core C2 were much higher than those in Core Cl. Zn and Pb exhibited the highest levels in two cores. The historical TM concentrations revealed obvious differences between two cores. In addition, TMs in the sediment of Core C2 had the high ecological risk and severe contamination status. The combined excessive concentrations of these five metals indicated a significant overall increase in the last two decades, implying the significant accumulation of TMs in the sediment of the Yellow River in recent years. The above results showed that the rapid development of urbanization, industrialization, and modern agriculture significantly accelerated the accumulations of TMs in the sediment of the Yellow River. The worsening trend of TM pollution in the sediment from the bottom to the top of two cores showed the deep influence of the intensified human activities on the TM pollution in sediment in recent years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
