Distribution, Ecological Risk Assessment, and Source Identification of Heavy Metals in River Sediments from Hai River and Its Tributaries, Tianjin, China

Spatial distribution characteristics and health risk assessment of heavy metals in surface sediment of the Hai River and its tributaries in Tianjin, China

“…After careful analysis of the water depth, topography of the river bottom, and surrounding land use, a total of 32 sampling locations were selected in the Hai River, its tributaries and Bohai Bay. The distribution and detailed information of the sampling sites were described in the previous study (Kang et al 2020). The surface sediment (0-10 cm) can reflect the sedimentation of heavy metals in recent decades and is closely related to the overlying water quality.…”

“…More than 85%, and in some cases 99%, of heavy metals entering aquatic systems accumulate in the sediment in various forms (Kang et al 2020). Sediment-bound metals can be released into the overlying water by physical, chemical, and biological processes, and then become bioavailable and potentially toxic to aquatic organisms.…”

“…With the rapid development of the Circum-Bohai Sea Economic Zone, the Haihe River Basin and Bohai Bay have suffered severe anthropogenic interferences and large amounts of pollutants produced by anthropogenic activities have been discharged into the water, thereby resulting in a series of heavy metal pollution problems. The Hai River and its tributaries mainly run through districts with well-developed economies and high population densities that have faced serious pollution caused by industrial wastewater, municipal sewage, agricultural surface runoff, livestock agriculture, and atmospheric wet deposition (Kang et al 2020). Therefore, the spatial distribution and health risks of heavy metals in the surface sediment of the Hai River and its tributaries need to be determined.…”

Characteristics of nutrients pollution and ecological risk assessment of heavy metal in sediments of Fenhe River, Taiyuan section, China

“…In addition, heavy metals in aquatic environments originate from both natural sources (weathering soil and rock, erosion, forest fires and volcanic eruptions) and anthropogenic activities (industrial effluents, domestic sewage, smelting, mining, fossil fuel burning and agricultural fertilizers) (Karbassi et al 2008;Malik et al 2010;Davutluoglu et al 2011). The existence of heavy metals in sediments poses a threat to the aquatic ecosystem, and heavy metals are regarded as the main contamination in aquatic environment due to their toxicity, persistence, bioaccumulation by organisms, non-biodegradation, ecological risk and adverse effects on animals, plants and human life through the food chain (Zheng et al 2013;Zahra et al 2014;Wei et al 2016;Kang et al 2020). Therefore, a better understanding of nutrient characteristics and heavy metal contamination will facilitate ecological risk assessments and provide more theoretical guidance of mitigation or remediation.…”

“…In addition, the nutrient pollution and ecological risk of heavy metals in the Fenhe River is a current issue of concern. Previous studies have focused on the spatial distribution, transport and transformation of contaminations for large rivers, lakes and estuaries, however, there have been few studies focusing on the ecological risk of heavy metals in tributaries of large rivers (such as the Fenhe River) (Yi et al 2011;Liu et al 2016;Bi et al 2017;Xu et al 2017;Kang et al 2020;Xu et al 2020;EI-Magd et al 2021;Yang et al 2021). It is of great practical significance to study the characteristics of nutrients and their distribution, related to potential ecological risks of heavy metals in the Fenhe River, Taiyuan section, with the aim to control the nutrients and heavy metal contamination and maintain a healthy river ecosystem.…”