Distribution and Potential Ecological Risk of Heavy Metals in Water, Sediments, and Aquatic Macrophytes: A Case Study of the Junction of Four Rivers in Linyi City, China

The Yi River, the second longest river in Shandong Province, China, flows through Linyi City and is fed by three tributary rivers, Beng River, Liuqing River, and Su River in the northeastern part of the city. In this study, we determined the concentrations of five heavy metals (Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, and Pb) in water, sediment, and aquatic macrophyte samples collected from the junction of the four rivers and evaluated the potential ecological risk of heavy metal pollution. Most of the heavy metals in water were in low concentrations with the water quality index (WQI) below 1, suggesting low metal pollution. The sediments showed low heavy metal concentrations, suggesting a low ecological risk based on the potential ecological risk index (RI) and the geo-accumulation index (Igeo). The aquatic plant species Potamogeton crispus accumulated considerable amounts of heavy metals, which were closely related to the metal concentrations of the sediment. The plant species Salvinia natans also showed an excellent metal accumulation capability. Based on our results, the junction of the four rivers is only slightly polluted in terms of heavy metals, and the plant species P. crispus is a suitable bioindicator for sediment heavy metal pollution.

Download Full-text

Assessment of Heavy Metal Pollution Levels in Sediments and of Ecological Risk by Quality Indices, Applying a Case Study: The Lower Danube River, Romania

Water ◽

10.3390/w13131801 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (13) ◽

pp. 1801

Author(s):

Valentina Andreea Calmuc ◽

Madalina Calmuc ◽

Maxim Arseni ◽

Catalina Maria Topa ◽

Mihaela Timofti ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Heavy Metals ◽

Heavy Metal ◽

Ecological Risk ◽

Metal Pollution ◽

Heavy Metal Pollution ◽

Surface Sediments ◽

Risk Index ◽

Potential Ecological Risk ◽

Danube River ◽

Pollution Indices

It is a well–known fact that heavy metal pollution in sediments causes serious problems not only in the Danube basin, but also in the large and small adjacent river streams. A suitable method for assessing the level of heavy metals and their toxicity in sediments is the calculation of pollution indices. The present research aims to assess heavy metal pollution in the Lower Danube surface sediments collected along the Danube course (between 180 and 60 km) up to the point where the Danube River flows into the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve (a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization – UNESCO, protected area). In addition, this monitored area is one of the largest European hydrographic basins. Five heavy metals (Cd, Ni, Zn, Pb, Cu) were analyzed in two different seasons, i.e., the autumn of 2018 and the spring of 2019, using the Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP– MS) technique. Our assessment of heavy metal pollution revealed two correlated aspects: 1. a determination of the potential risks of heavy metals in sediments by calculating the Potential Ecological Risk Index (RI), and 2. an evaluation of the influence of anthropogenic activities on the level of heavy metal contamination in the surface sediments, using three specific pollution indices, namely, the Geo–Accumulation Index (Igeo), the Contamination Factor (CF), and the Pollution Load Index (PLI). The results of this pioneering research activity in the region highlighted the presence of moderate metal (Ni and Cd) pollution and a low potential ecological risk for the aquatic environment.

Download Full-text

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

Water ◽

10.3390/w10081060 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 10 (8) ◽

pp. 1060 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Jinying Xu ◽

Yuwei Chen ◽

Lilin Zheng ◽

Baogui Liu ◽

Jinfu Liu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Heavy Metals ◽

Heavy Metal ◽

Ecological Risk ◽

Metal Pollution ◽

Heavy Metal Pollution ◽

Risk Index ◽

Potential Ecological Risk ◽

Dongting Lake ◽

Lake Area ◽

Xiangjiang River

Heavy metal pollution in sediment is one of the most serious problems in water bodies, including rivers, which can cause secondary pollution when environmental conditions change. In this study, surface sediment samples collected from the four main tributaries of Dongting Lake (i.e., Xiangjiang River (XR), Zishui River (ZR), Yuanjiang River (YR), and Lishui River (LR)) were analyzed for concentrations of Zn, Cr, Cu, As, Cd, and Pb. The spatial distribution, source, and potential ecological risk of these metals were determined. The results suggest a great spatial heterogeneity of heavy metals in the sediment of the studied rivers. Heavy metals had highest concentrations in the sediment of XR, especially midstream and downstream. A principal component analysis (PCA) and correlation analysis indicated that Cd and As were mainly from industrial wastewater and mineral mining, Cr came from natural process and agricultural activities, and Zn and Cu potentially from both. Pb was originated from atmospheric deposition and river inflow transportation. According to the geo-accumulation index ( I g e o ), enrichment factor (EF), and risk index (RI) assessment, heavy metals pollution was highest in the sediment of XR, and Cd was the main pollutant in the sediment of XR, presenting considerable potential ecological risk. This may contribute to heavy metal pollution in Dongting Lake. This paper provides a reference for the aquatic environmental management of heavy metals in Dongting Lake area and its tributaries.

Download Full-text

Characteristics and Potential Ecological Risks of Heavy Metal Pollution in Surface Soil Around Coal-fired Power Plant

10.21203/rs.3.rs-554137/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

yunhu hu ◽

mu you ◽

Guijian Liu ◽

zhongbing dong

Keyword(s):

Heavy Metals ◽

Heavy Metal ◽

Power Plant ◽

Ecological Risk ◽

Metal Pollution ◽

Heavy Metal Pollution ◽

Risk Index ◽

Potential Ecological Risk ◽

Ecological Risk Index ◽

Heavy Pollution

Abstract The concentrations of heavy metals (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Mn, Pb and Zn) in surface soils in the area surrounding a coal-fired power plant in China were measured, the distribution characteristics of heavy metals in different wind directions were analyzed, and the pollution degree of heavy metal in soil was evaluated. The soil around the power plant is generally polluted by heavy metals, and the degree of pollution is heavy pollution and moderate pollution. The potential ecological hazard of heavy metals in soil is moderate or slight. The values of Nemerow index and potential ecological risk index are different among different directions and different distances from the power plant. Cd, Hg and As are the mainly contributors for the potential ecological risk. The results revealed that wind direction is important for the distribution of heavy metal around coal-fired power plant. The study can provide a theoretical basis for the prevention and management of soil heavy metal pollution around coal-fired power plant.

Download Full-text

Evaluating ecological risks and tracking potential factors influencing heavy metals in sediments in an urban river

Environmental Sciences Europe ◽

10.1186/s12302-021-00487-x ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 33 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Dongping Liu ◽

Jian Wang ◽

Huibin Yu ◽

Hongjie Gao ◽

Weining Xu

Keyword(s):

Heavy Metals ◽

Heavy Metal ◽

Ecological Risk ◽

Metal Pollution ◽

Heavy Metal Pollution ◽

Risk Index ◽

Urban River ◽

Ecological Risks ◽

Background Values ◽

Potential Factors

Abstract Background Heavy metal pollution of aquatic systems is a global issue that has received considerable attention. Canonical correlation analysis (CCA), principal component analysis (PCA), and potential ecological risk index (PERI) have been applied to heavy metal data to trace potential factors, identify regional differences, and evaluate ecological risks. Sediment cores of 200 cm in depth were taken using a drilling platform at 10 sampling sites along the Xihe River, an urban river located in western Shenyang City, China. Then they were divided into 10 layers (20 cm each layer). The concentrations of the As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb and Zn were measured for each layer. Eight heavy metals, namely Pb, Zn, As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, and Hg, were measured for each layer in this study. Results The average concentrations of the As, Cd, Cu, Hg, and Zn were significantly higher than their background values in soils in the region, and mainly gathered at 0–120 cm in depth in the upstream, 0–60 cm in the midstream, and 0–20 cm downstream. This indicated that these heavy metals were derived from the upstream areas where a large quantity of effluents from the wastewater treatment plants enter the river. Ni, Pb, and Cr were close or slightly higher than their background values. The decreasing order of the average concentration of Cd was upstream > midstream > downstream, so were Cr, Cu, Ni and Zn. The highest concentration of As was midstream, followed by upstream and then downstream, which was different to Cd. The potential factors of heavy metal pollution were Cd, Cu, Hg, Zn, and As, especially Cd and Hg with the high ecological risks. The ecological risk levels of all heavy metals were much higher in the upstream than the midstream and downstream. Conclusions Industrial discharge was the dominant source for eight heavy metals in the surveyed area, and rural domestic sewage has a stronger influence on the Hg pollution than industrial pollutants. These findings indicate that effective management strategies for sewage discharge should be developed to protect the environmental quality of urban rivers.

Download Full-text

Potential ecological risk assessment and prediction of soil heavy-metal pollution around coal gangue dump

Natural Hazards and Earth System Science ◽

10.5194/nhess-14-1599-2014 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 14 (6) ◽

pp. 1599-1610 ◽

Cited By ~ 96

Author(s):

X. Jiang ◽

W. X. Lu ◽

H. Q. Zhao ◽

Q. C. Yang ◽

Z. P. Yang

Keyword(s):

Heavy Metal ◽

Ecological Risk ◽

Metal Pollution ◽

Heavy Metal Pollution ◽

Pearson Correlation ◽

Risk Index ◽

Potential Ecological Risk ◽

Coal Gangue ◽

Index Method ◽

Soil Heavy Metal

Abstract. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the potential ecological risk and trend of soil heavy-metal pollution around a coal gangue dump in Jilin Province (Northeast China). The concentrations of Cd, Pb, Cu, Cr and Zn were monitored by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The potential ecological risk index method developed by Hakanson (1980) was employed to assess the potential risk of heavy-metal pollution. The potential ecological risk in the order of ER(Cd) > ER(Pb) > ER(Cu) > ER(Cr) > ER(Zn) have been obtained, which showed that Cd was the most important factor leading to risk. Based on the Cd pollution history, the cumulative acceleration and cumulative rate of Cd were estimated, then the fixed number of years exceeding the standard prediction model was established, which was used to predict the pollution trend of Cd under the accelerated accumulation mode and the uniform mode. Pearson correlation analysis and correspondence analysis are employed to identify the sources of heavy metals and the relationship between sampling points and variables. These findings provided some useful insights for making appropriate management strategies to prevent or decrease heavy-metal pollution around a coal gangue dump in the Yangcaogou coal mine and other similar areas elsewhere.

Download Full-text

Assessment of the Ecological Risk from Heavy Metals in the Surface Sediment of River Surma, Bangladesh: Coupled Approach of Monte Carlo Simulation and Multi-Component Statistical Analysis

Water ◽

10.3390/w14020180 ◽

2022 ◽

Vol 14 (2) ◽

pp. 180

Author(s):

Arup Acharjee ◽

Zia Ahmed ◽

Pankaj Kumar ◽

Rafiul Alam ◽

M. Safiur Rahman ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Heavy Metals ◽

Heavy Metal ◽

Monte Carlo Simulation ◽

Monte Carlo ◽

Ecological Risk ◽

Metal Pollution ◽

Heavy Metal Pollution ◽

River Sediment ◽

Risk Index ◽

Pollution Level

River sediment can be used to measure the pollution level in natural water, as it serves as one of the vital environmental indicators. This study aims to assess heavy metal pollution namely Copper (Cu), Iron (Fe), Manganese (Mn), Zinc (Zn), Nickel (Ni), Lead (Pb), and Cadmium (Cd) in Surma River. Further, it compares potential ecological risk index values using Hakanson Risk Index (RI) and Monte Carlo Simulation (MCS) approach to evaluate the environmental risks caused by these heavy metals. in the study area. With obtained results, enrichment of individual heavy metals in the study area was found in the order of Ni > Pb > Cd > Mn > Cu > Zn. Also, variance in MCS index contributed by studied metals was in the order of Cd > Pb > Ni > Zn > Cu. None of the heavy metals, except Ni, showed moderate contamination of the sediment. Risk index values from RI and MCS provide valuable insights in the contamination profile of the river, indicating the studied river is currently under low ecological risk for the studied heavy metals. This study can be utilized to assess the susceptibility of the river sediment to heavy metal pollution near an urban core, and to have a better understanding of the contamination profile of a river.

Download Full-text

Pollution, Ecological Risk and Source Identification of Heavy Metals in Sediments from the Huafei River in the Eastern Suburbso Kaifeng, China

10.21203/rs.3.rs-368427/v2 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Bingyan Jin ◽

Jinling Wang ◽

Wei Lou ◽

Liren Wang ◽

Jinlong Xu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Heavy Metals ◽

Heavy Metal ◽

Ecological Risk ◽

Metal Pollution ◽

Risk Index ◽

Potential Ecological Risk ◽

Ecological Risk Index ◽

Industrial Activities ◽

Geo Accumulation

Abstract Rivers in urban environments are significant components of their ecosystems but remain under threat of pollution from unchecked discharges of industrial sewage and domestic wastewater. Such river pollution, particularly over the longer term involving heavy metals, is an issue of worldwide concern regarding risks to the ecological environment and human health. In this study, we investigate the long-term pollution characteristics of the Huafei River, an important urban river in Kaifeng, China. River sedimentary samples were analyzed, assessing the degree and ecological risk of heavy metal pollution using the geo-accumulation index and potential ecological risk index methods; whilst Pearson’s correlation, principal component, and cluster analyses were used to identify the sources of pollution. The results show that heavy metal concentrations are significantly higher than their corresponding fluvo-aquic soil background values in China, and the geo-accumulation indexes indicate, that of the 8 heavy metals identified, Hg is most prevalent, followed in sequence by Cd > Zn > Cu > Pb > Ni > As > Cr. The potential ecological risk index of the Huafei river is very high, with the potential ecological risk intensity highest in the midstream and downstream sections where it is recommended that pollution control is carried out, especially concerning Hg and Cd. Long-term sequence analysis indicates that Cu and Pb dropped sharply from 1998 to 2017, but rebounded in 2019, and that Zn shows a continuous decreasing trend. Four main sources for the heavy metal contaminants were identified: Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn and Hg derived mainly from industrial activities, traffic sources and natural sources; Cd originated mainly from industrial and agricultural activities; whilst As was mainly associated with industrial activities. It is anticipated that the findings of this study will provide theoretical references for the effective control and scientific management of heavy metal pollution in the Huafei River and its surrounding areas.

Download Full-text

Potential ecological risk assessment and prediction of heavy-metal pollution of soil surrounding the drilling waste deposition site

MATEC Web of Conferences ◽

10.1051/matecconf/201925209011 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 252 ◽

pp. 09011

Author(s):

Justyna Kujawska ◽

Wojciech Cel

Keyword(s):

Heavy Metals ◽

Risk Assessment ◽

Heavy Metal ◽

Ecological Risk ◽

Ecological Risk Assessment ◽

Metal Pollution ◽

Heavy Metal Pollution ◽

Potential Ecological Risk ◽

Potential Ecological Risk Assessment ◽

Drilling Waste

Owing to their toxicity, heavy metals constitute a serious threat to the environment. In the pages that follow, we will report the results of evaluation of the potential ecological risk and trend of soil heavy metal pollution surrounding the drilling waste deposition site in western Poland. The concentrations of heavy metals: Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb were determined by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry. The procedure used for potential ecological risk assessment was as proposed by Hakanson (1980). The calculated potential ecological risk factors come in the following order EiR(Cd)>EiR(Pb)>EiR(Cu)>EiR(Cr), which shows that Cd is the most important factor leading to risk. The uniform model was employed to determine the time in which Cd concentration will exceed the permissible concentration level, as regulated by Polish Law. The Pearson correlation coefficient was employed along with the correspondence analysis in order to determine the relationships between heavy metal concentrations.

Download Full-text

Study of Heavy Metals and Microbial Communities in Contaminated Sediments Along an Urban Estuary

Frontiers in Marine Science ◽

10.3389/fmars.2021.741912 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 ◽

Author(s):

Jun Yi ◽

Linus Shing Him Lo ◽

Hongbin Liu ◽

Pei-Yuan Qian ◽

Jinping Cheng

Keyword(s):

Heavy Metals ◽

Heavy Metal ◽

Microbial Community ◽

Microbial Communities ◽

Ecological Risk ◽

Metal Pollution ◽

Heavy Metal Pollution ◽

Risk Index ◽

Estuarine Sediments ◽

Yangtze River Estuary

Estuarine sediments are increasingly contaminated by heavy metals as a result of urbanization and human activities. Continuous multi-heavy metal accumulation in the ecosystem can provoke new effects on top of the complex environmental interactions already present in estuarine ecosystems. It is important to study their integrated influence on imperative microbial communities to reflect on the environmental and ecological risks they may impose. Inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy analysis for five metals Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, and Zn showed that Cr and Cu concentrations in intertidal sediments of the urbanized Yangtze River estuary in China have consistently exceeded respective threshold effect concentration (TEC) levels. The geo-accumulation and potential ecological risk index results of the five metals showed that all sampling sites were weakly to moderately polluted, and at considerable to high ecological risk, respectively. Redundancy and correlation analyses showed that Zn followed by Cr in the ecosystem were explanatory of the shifts in recorded microbial community structures. However, the spatial variation in metal concentrations did not correspond to the selection of metal resistance genes (MRGs). Unlike many other dominant bacterial taxa, most of the sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) and associated sulfate respiration as the dominant microbially contributed ecological function were found to negatively correlate with Zn and total heavy metal pollution. Zn concentration was proposed to be a potent indicator for heavy metal pollution-associated microbial community compositional shifts under urbanized estuarine conditions. The associations between heavy metals and estuarine microbial communities in this study demonstrate the influence of heavy metals on microbial community structure and adaptations that is often overshadowed by environmental factors (i.e., salinity and nutrients).

Download Full-text

Potential ecological risk assessment and prediction of soil heavy metal pollution around coal gangue dump

Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences Discussions ◽

10.5194/nhessd-2-1977-2014 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 2 (3) ◽

pp. 1977-2010 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

X. Jiang ◽

W. X. Lu ◽

Q. C. Yang ◽

Z. P. Yang

Keyword(s):

Heavy Metal ◽

Ecological Risk ◽

Metal Pollution ◽

Heavy Metal Pollution ◽

Pearson Correlation ◽

Risk Index ◽

Potential Ecological Risk ◽

Coal Gangue ◽

Index Method ◽

Soil Heavy Metal

Abstract. Aim of the present study is to evaluate the potential ecological risk and predict the trend of soil heavy metal pollution around a~coal gangue dump in Jilin Province (Northeast China). The concentrations of Cd, Pb, Cu, Cr and Zn were monitored by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The potential ecological risk index method developed by Hakanson (1980) was employed to assess the potential risk of heavy metal pollution. The potential ecological risk in an order of E(Cd) > E(Pb) > E(Cu) > E(Cr) > E(Zn) have been obtained, which showed that Cd was the most important factor led to risk. Based on the Cd pollution history, the cumulative acceleration and cumulative rate of Cd were estimated, and the fixed number of years exceeding standard prediction model was established, which was used to predict the pollution trend of Cd under the accelerated accumulation mode and the uniform mode. Pearson correlation analysis and correspondence analysis are employed to identify the sources of heavy metal, and the relationship between sampling points and variables. These findings provide some useful insights for making appropriate management strategies to prevent and decrease heavy metal pollution around coal gangue dump in Yangcaogou coal mine and other similar areas elsewhere.

Download Full-text