Assessment of the sediment quality of freshwater ecosystems in eastern China based on spatial and temporal variation of nutrients

Abstract

Comprehensively characterizing and assessing the sediment quality in freshwater ecosystems based on the condition of the nutrients in eastern China was urgent. The distribution and concentration of nutrients were investigated; meanwhile, sediment quality guidelines (SQGs), organic pollution index (OPI), and organic nitrogen index (ONI) were used to assess the sediment quality. Total phosphorus (TP), total nitrogen (TN), and total sulfur (TS) concentrations in sediment samples were 48.4, 72.5, and 89.5% higher than the soil background value, respectively. In terms of the Ontario SQGs, 41.8 and 74.7% of sediment samples were severely polluted by TP and TN, respectively. The Haihe, Yangtze, and Pearl River Basins were much more severely contaminated than other basins. TN pollution was much more severe than TP pollution in all basins. The Haihe, Huaihe, and Pearl River Basins were seriously contaminated according to the OPI and ONI. On temporal scale, the TP and TN significantly increased since 1980s because of the social and economic development in eastern China. For most severely contaminated basins, TN contamination was higher than TP contamination, and concentrations of TN and TP continuously increased from 2007 to 2016, which ranged from 2.06 to 2.51 g/kg, and 1.02 to 1.22 g/kg, respectively, in the Haihe River Basin. This trend will continue without effective control. The freshwater sediment quality in eastern China revealed urgent attention.

Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals In Suspended Particulate Matter In A Typical Urban River of Northern China

“…The Beiyun River is located in the BTH region, an area in which the economy is rapidly developing and near to the capital, which is highly sensitive to GDP. GDP is a critical indicator to evaluate the impact of human activities on river pollution (Zhang et al 2017b). The concentration of Cu and Pb are closely related to agricultural and industrial activities.…”

“…Signi cant positive correlations were found between TC, TN, TP, and Cu concentrations. Moreover, OM was signi cantly positively correlated with Ni, Cu, and Zn, indicating that TC, TN, TP, and OM have common sources, and are affected by chemical parameters combined with heavy metals(Zhang et al 2017b). Among these seven heavy metals, Zn has extremely strong correlation with Cu and Pb.…”

Water quality and physicochemical parameters of outgoing waters in a pharmaceutical plant

“…This index can be used for detection of organic pollution or to assess the sediment quality using sediment quality guidelines (Zhang et al 2017). Among the important factors (Na + , Cl − , pH, HCO 3− , EC, SAR and TDS) concerning the quality of irrigation waters, the SAR has the maximum weight factor (Misaghi et al 2017).…”

Influence of land cover, point source pollution, and granularity on the distribution of metals, metalloids, and organic matter in the river and stream sediments in the Republic of Korea

“…Rivers and streams are the most important water sources for industrial, domestic, and irrigation purposes; however, indiscreet use and misuse have made freshwater systems vulnerable to pollution worldwide (Zoumis et al 2001 ; Olivares-Rieumont et al 2005 ). Due to additional urbanization, there has been an increase in agricultural and industrial processes, construction of dams in catchment basins, and consequent contamination by organic matter, nutrients, and metal and metalloid species (Zhang et al 2017 ; Mao et al 2020 ). Once pollutants flow into water bodies, they often coagulate, precipitate, and accumulate in the surface sediment.…”