Ecological risk of heavy metals in sediments of the Luan River source water

Abstract

Distribution and characteristics of heavy metals enrichment in sediment were surveyed including the bio-available form analyzed for assessment of the Luan River source water quality. The approaches of sediment quality guidelines (SQG), risk assessment code and Hakanson potential ecological risk index were used for the ecological risk assessment. According to SQG, The results show that in animal bodies, Hg at the sampling site of Wuliehexia was 1.39 mg/kg, Cr at Sandaohezi was 152.37 mg/kg and Cu at Hanjiaying was 178.61 mg/kg exceeding the severe effect screening level. There were 90% of sampling sites of Cr and Pb and 50% sites of Cu exceeded the lowest effect screening level. At Boluonuo and Wuliehexia, the exchangeable and carbonate fractions for above 50% of sites were at high risk levels and that for above 30% of sites at Xiahenan and Wulieheshang were also at high risk levels. Other sites were at medium risk level. Compared to soil background values of China, Hg and Cd showed very strong ecological risk, and the seven heavy metals of Hg, Cd, Cu, As, Pb, Cr, Zn at ecological risk levels were in the descending order. The results could give insight into risk assessment of environmental pollution and decision-making for water source security.

Heavy metal pollution in sediments of a typical mariculture zone in South China

“…These observations are consistent with previous reports on heavy metal speciation in marine and estuarine sediments (Morillo et al, 2002;Man et al, 2004;Li et al, 2007). It should be noted that pollutants with very high bioavailability at very low total concentrations do not entail a serious concern, while those with low bioavailable fractions but at very high total concentrations may exert considerable environmental risks (Liu et al, 2009). As Cd was present in the sediments at relatively n.a n.a n.a 3.01 ± 1.33 (1.14-4.50) 3.21 ± 1. low levels, it was unlikely to pose a significant risk despite its bioavailability and mobility.…”

“…The confidence of sediment quality assessment depends mainly on accurate reference value comparison (Chapman 1995). Due to lack of relevant background data for unpolluted marine sediment in the study area, the national soil background values in China, which are 53.9, 25.0, 20.0, 67.7, 9.2, 23.6 and 0.070 mg/kg for Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Pb and Cd, respectively (Li, 1994;Liu et al, 2009), were adopted in this study. According to Gan et al (2000), the potential ecological risk of coastal sediments posed by heavy metals can be classified into the following categories:…”

Assessment of Heavy Metal Pollution and Potential Ecological Risk in Soils of Tianjin Sewage Irrigation Region, North China

“…The potential ecological risk index method, which is based on the characteristics of a heavy metal and its environmental behavior, was advanced by the Swedish scholar Lars Hakanson [15,[29][30][31], according to the characteristics of heavy metal and its environmental behaviour. The potential ecological risk index method is an approach to evaluate the heavy metal contamination from the perspective of sedimentology.…”

“…So heavy metals contamination has been a worldwide environmental concern with its potential ecological effect [14,15]. The present work deals with the quantification of heavy metal concentrations in soil and crops grown in Tianjin sewage irrigation region, the biggest sewage irrigation region in China which has 25-40 years sewage irrigation history.…”

Ecological Risk and Economic Loss Estimation of Heavy Metals Pollution in The Beijiang River

“…In order to check and control the probably pollution by samples during testing process, each sample analyzed by two blank whole-process. For the sake of ensure the validity of data and the accuracy and precision of analysis methods, the reference materials were adopted (Hg: GBW (E) 080392; As: GBW (E) 080390; Cd: GBW (E) 080401; Pb: GBW (E) 080399; Zn: GBW (E) 080400) Cu: GBW (E) 080396; Ni: GBW (E) 080392; Cr: GBW (E) 080403 [15]. The quality control gave good precision with a relative standard deviation better than 5% for all the duplicate samples.…”