Distribution and ecological risks of heavy metals in river sediments and overlying water in typical mining areas of China. (September 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Chen, Ming; Li, Fengguo; Tao, Meixia; Hu, Lanwen; Shi, Yanli; Liu, Youcun
• Is Part Of: Marine pollution bulletin. Volume 146(2019)
• Page Start: 893
• Page End: 899
• Publication Date: 2019-09
• Subjects: Metal mines -- Taojiang river -- Overlying water -- Sediments -- Heavy metals -- Ecological risk; Marine pollution -- Periodicals; Marine Biology -- Periodicals; Water Pollution -- Periodicals; Mer -- Pollution -- Périodiques; Publications périodiques; Pollution des mers; Lutte antipollution; Electronic journals; 363.7394
• DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2019.07.029
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0025-326X

Abstract

Abstract: The distribution and potential ecological risks of eight heavy metal elements including Cr, Cu, Zn, As, Cd, Pb, Hg, and W in the overlying water and sediments of the Taojiang River were investigated. The concentrations of eight heavy metals were measured by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS), and the distribution coefficients were exploited to estimate the partition coefficient between overlying water and sediment phases, which were subsequently used to establish the potential ecological risk of heavy metals in sediments. The results revealed that the contents of Pb (33.47 μg·L − 1 ), Cd (153.03 μg·L − 1 ) and Hg (1.12 μg·L − 1 ) in the water samples exceeded threshold values as proposed by the limits of the class III environmental quality standard. On the other hand, Cr, Cu, Zn, As, and Pb within sediments were below threshold limits. Highlights: Heavy metal pollution was assessed in river of typical mining rivers in China. Taojiang River had the highest values of Pb, Cd and Hg. Heavy metal enrichment in the Taojiang rivers: W > Cr > As > Pb > Hg > Zn > Cd > Cu Risk assessment degree of heavy metals in sediments was Cd > Hg > As > Pb > Cu > Zn > Cr. The W content in the sediments of research area exceeded the threshold value.