Heavy Metal Contamination in the Surface Sediments of Representative Limnetic Ecosystems in Eastern China

Abstract

A comprehensive analysis of heavy metal pollution was conducted in the representative limnetic ecosystems of eastern China, which are subject to rapid economic development and population growth. The results demonstrated that the average contents with standard deviations of Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn in the surface sediments were 0.925 ± 0.936, 142 ± 46.8, 54.7 ± 29.1, 60.5 ± 21.6, 61.9 ± 36.0 and 192 ± 120 mg/kg dry wt., respectively, and that higher values were mainly observed in the southern portion of the study area, especially in the basins of Southeast Coastal Rivers (SCRB) and the Zhu River (ZRB). The six heavy metals in the surface sediments all had anthropogenic origins. In addition, the limnetic ecosystems, especially in the southern portion of the study area were found to be polluted by heavy metals, especially Cd. Overall, two hotspots of heavy metal pollution in the limnetic ecosystems of eastern China were found, one that consisted of the heavy pollution regions, SCRB and ZRB, and another composed of Cd pollution. These results indicate that heavy metal contamination, especially Cd, should be taken into account during development of management strategies to protect the aquatic environment in the limnetic ecosystems of eastern China, especially in the two aforementioned basins.

Geo-accumulation Index, Enrichment Factor and Quantification of Contamination of Heavy Metals in Soil Receiving Cassava Mill Effluents in A Rural Community in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria

“…Typically, iron has a relatively high natural concentration and is therefore not expected to be substantially enriched from anthropogenic sources (Bhutiani et al, 2017). EF is mathematically expressed based on the method previously described and used by Bhutiani et al (2017), Elias et al (2014), Tang et al (2014), El-Metwally et al (2017), Gasiorek et al (2017), Kowalska et al (2016).…”

“…According to Guan et al (2014), geo-accumulation index is suitable for assessing heavy metals in soil contaminated by industrial activities. Geo-accumulation index by Muller (1969) and have been applied by El-Metwally et al (2017), Bhutiani et al (2017), Ghaleno et al (2015), Todorova et al (2016), Tang et al (2014) Wang et al (2016, Hassaan et al (2016), Vowotor et al (2014), Ghazaryan et al (2015), Guan et al (2014), Gasiorek et al (2017), Kowalska et al (2016).…”

“…Some of these indices such as enrichment factor (EF), geo-accumulation factor (Igeo) and Quantification of contamination (QoC) have been applied by authors in assessing environmental risk assessment (Muller, 1969;Sutherland, 2000;Asaah et al, 2006;Elias et al, 2014;Tang et al, 2014;Vowotor et al, 2014;Ghaleno et al, 2015;Ghazaryan et al, 2015;Hassaan et al, 2016;Todorova et al, 2016;Wang et al, 2016;Bhutiani et al, 2017). Hence, this study aimed at assessing the Igeo, EF, QoC of heavy metals in soil receiving cassava mill effluents in a rural community of the Niger Delta region of Nigeria.…”

Measuring Spatial Distribution Characteristics of Heavy Metal Contaminations in a Network-Constrained Environment: A Case Study in River Network of Daye, China

“…With rapid economic development, China has experienced a vast increase in the exploitation and utilization of mineral resources [10]. Nonetheless, despite the importance of mineral resources in China's modernization, heavy metal pollution has become increasingly serious and has been extensively explored in the sediments of limnetic ecosystems in China [11][12][13][14]. Thus, it is important to investigate the pollution levels and health risks of heavy metal pollution in the sediments of aquatic ecosystems.…”

Distributions, fluxes, and toxicities of heavy metals in sediment pore water from tributaries of the Ziya River system, northern China

“…The Ziya River system (ZYS), which is a major water system in the Haihe Basin, has been significantly contaminated by heavy metals due to industrial development and rapid urbanization. Previous studies have already reported high metal contents in the sediments from the ZYS (Tang et al 2015, Tang et al 2014, Tang et al 2013. The sediments of the ZYS have been considered to be high ecological risk due to heavy metals.…”