Heavy metal pollution, ecological risk, spatial distribution, and source identification in sediments of the Lijiang River, China
| Autor: | Jieyue Li, Asfandyar Shahab, Bei-Dou Xi, Hongwei Huang, Xiangkui Li, He Xiao, Xiaojie Sun, Qixin Chang, Shaohong You |
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| Rok vydání: | 2020 |
| Předmět: |
Pollution
China Geologic Sediments 010504 meteorology & atmospheric sciences Health Toxicology and Mutagenesis media_common.quotation_subject Weathering 010501 environmental sciences Toxicology Spatial distribution 01 natural sciences Risk Assessment chemistry.chemical_compound Metals Heavy Cities 0105 earth and related environmental sciences media_common geography geography.geographical_feature_category Sediment General Medicine Contamination Karst chemistry Environmental chemistry Erosion Environmental science Carbonate Water Pollutants Chemical Environmental Monitoring |
| Zdroj: | Environmental pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987). 269 |
| ISSN: | 1873-6424 |
| Popis: | The Lijiang River is of great ecological and environmental importance for Guilin City, which is located in the karst area of southeast China. Given its importance, a detailed evaluation of the heavy metals (HMs) in the river sediment is required. For the first time, 61 sediment samples were collected along the entire Lijiang River to determine pollution level and ecological risk posed by 10 HMs (Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn, As, Hg, and Cd). These were assessed using the geo-accumulation index, potential ecological risk index, and modified degree of contamination. The results showed that the mean concentrations of the majority of HMs exceeded their corresponding background values and followed the trend: midstream > downstream > upstream. Based on the spatial distributions and pollution indices of the 10 HMs, the Lijiang River was found to have a high accumulation of Cd, Hg, Zn, and Pb in the sediments. The midstream area was the most polluted with respect to Cd and Hg, and also posed a relatively higher potential ecological risk than the downstream and upstream areas. The sources of the assessed HMs were inferred based on a correlation analysis and principal component analysis, which identified both natural and anthropogenic sources. A higher pollution potential was associated with Cd, Hg, Pb, and Zn in the midstream and downstream areas due to higher organic and carbonate content, urbanization, agricultural activities, and leisure activities (e.g., boating and cruises). In contrast, natural erosion and weathering processes were responsible for the HM concentrations in the upstream area. The findings of this study will help the local authorities to protect the important water resource of the Lijiang River. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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