The current status of heavy metal in lake sediments from China: Pollution and ecological risk assessment

Abstract

Heavy metal contamination in lake sediments is a serious problem, particularly in developing countries such as China. To evaluate heavy metal pollution and risk of contamination in lake sediments on a national scale in China, we collated available data in the literature of the last 10 years on lake sediments polluted with heavy metals from 24 provinces in China. Based on these data, we used sediment quality guidelines, geoaccumulation index, and potential ecological risk index to assess potential ecological risk levels. The results showed that approximately 20.6% of the lakes studied exceeded grade II level in Chinese soil quality standards for As, 31.3% for Cd, 4.6% for Cu, 20.8% for Ni, 2.8% for Zn, and 11.1% for Hg, respectively. Besides, the mean concentrations for As in 10.3% of lakes, Hg in 11.9% of lakes, and Ni in 31.3% of lakes surpassed the probable effect level. The potential ecological risk for toxic metals decreased in the order of Cd > Hg > As > Cu > Pb > Ni > Cr > Zn, and there were 21.8% of the lakes studied in the state of moderate risk, 10.9% in high risk, and 12.7% in very high risk. It can be concluded that Chinese lake sediments are polluted by heavy metals to varying degrees. In order to provide key management targets for relevant administrative agencies, based on the results of the pollution and ecological risk assessments, Cd, Hg, As, Cu, and Ni were selected as the priority control heavy metals, and the eastern coastal provinces and Hunan province were selected as the priority control provinces. This article, therefore, provides a comprehensive assessment of heavy metal pollution in lake sediments in China, while providing a reference for the development of lake sediment quality standards.

Geoacumulation of Heavy Metals in Sediment of the Fluvial-Lagoon-Deltaic System of the Palizada River, Campeche, Mexico

“…In contrast, concentrations of Pb in all the sampling sites of this investigation were lower than values of ERL and TEL, since the maximum value recorded in the study area was 10.421 ± 0.218 μg g -1 . The aforementioned value was lower than the ERL of 46.7 μg g -1 [57], and mean of 34.08 mg kg -1 in sediment of China [58], which indicates that there is no acute risk, yet there coud be a chronic risk due to bioaccumulation of this element.…”

Assessment of Heavy Metal Pollution in the Sediment of the Main Tributaries of Dongting Lake, China

“…According to the Hunan Statistical Year Book (2017), the content of Cd and As in the sewage discharged from Hunan Province accounts for 40% and 10.3% of the total discharge across China, respectively. Studies have illustrated that XR is the area most polluted by heavy metals in China, with the heavy metal pollution mainly derived from industrial manufacturing and refined mineral mining [21,59,60]. Therefore, the significantly higher concentration of Cd and As observed in the sediment of XR, compared with the other three rivers, indicates that As and Cd may be mainly produced by industrial wastewater and mineral mining processes.…”

Uncovering Unused Messaging Tools for Motivating Pro-environmental Behavior

“…Human behaviors are also creating regional problems. For example, China's lakes and waterways are experience heavy metal contamination at historic levels due to 30 years of industrialization at unprecedented speed (Xu, Y., Wu, Y., Han, J., & Li, P., 2017). North America replaced a buffalo dominated ecosystem the size of the Serengeti with monoculture crops.…”