Ecological Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals along Three Main Drains in Nile Delta and Potential Phytoremediation by Macrophyte Plants

The use of drainage water in the irrigation of agroecosystem is associated with environmental hazards, and can pose threats to human health. Nine heavy metals (Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, Co, Cr, Ni, Cd and Pb) along three main drains in the middle Nile Delta were measures in the sediments, roots and shoots of three common macrophytes (Echinochloa stagnina, Phragmites australis and Typha domingensis). The physicochemical characteristics, as well as the enrichment factor (Ef), contamination factor (Cf), geoaccumulation index (Igeo), ecological risk factor (Er), degree of contamination (Dc) and potential ecological risk index (PERI), were determined for sediment. The metal bioaccumulation factor (BAF) and translocation factor (TF) were assessed for plants. Data revealed high contents of Cr, Zn and Cd in the upstream of the drains, while Mn, Cu and Ni were recorded in high concentrations in the downstream. Mn, Cr, Co, Cu, Ni and Zn were recorded to be within EU (2002), CSQGD (2007) and US EPA (1999) limits, while Cd and Pb showed high a ecological risk index. This high concentration of pollutants could be attributed to unremitting industrial activities, which can bioaccumulate in the food chains and cause serious problems for humans. The root of P. australis showed the effective accumulation of most of the elements, while T. domingensis revealed the highest accumulation of Pb. However, the highest BAF shoot value was found in T. domingensis for most of the heavy metals, except for Fe and Zn in P. australis and Mn in E. stagnina. Thus, P. australis could be used as a potential phytoextractor of these hazardous metals, as an eco-friendly and cost-efficient method for remediation of the polluted drains. Further, T. domingensis could be integrated as a hyperaccumulator of Pb. Strict laws and regulations must be taken into consideration by the policymaker against unmanaged industrial activities, particularly near the water streams in the Nile Delta.

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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.

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Contamination Evaluation and Source Identification of Heavy Metals in the Sediments from the Lishui River Watershed, Southern China

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph16030336 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 16 (3) ◽

pp. 336 ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

Fang Shen ◽

Longjiang Mao ◽

Runxia Sun ◽

Jijing Du ◽

Zhihai Tan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Heavy Metals ◽

Ecological Risk ◽

Southern China ◽

Risk Index ◽

River Sediments ◽

Human Health Risk ◽

Contamination Factor ◽

Principal Component ◽

Industrial Activities ◽

River Watershed

Seven heavy metals (Cr, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Pb) were measured in surface sediments from the Lishui River watershed, an area with increased soil erosion in China. The mean concentrations of heavy metals were 61.20 mg/kg (Cr), 757.15 mg/kg (Mn), 9.39 mg/kg (Co), 25.31 mg/kg (Ni), 22.84 mg/kg (Cu), 91.66 mg/kg (Zn), and 40.19 mg/kg (Pb), respectively. The spatial distribution of heavy metals was site-specific, exhibiting a remarkably high level in the sampling stations with intense agricultural activities (Lixian) and industrial activities (Jinshi). Contamination indexes including contamination factor, pollution load index, nemerow multi-factor index, potential ecological risk index, and human health risk were used to assess the pollution degree of the river sediments. The results indicated the pollution degree of heavy metals decreased in the order of Mn>Pb>Zn>Cr>Cu>Ni>Co. Heavy metals resulted in non-pollution to moderate pollution, with low ecological risk and an acceptable carcinogenic risk caused by Cr and Ni for children and adults. Person’s correlation analysis and principal component analysis, coupled with cluster analysis, revealed that the sediments from the Lishui River were mainly influenced by two sources. Cr, Co, Ni, and Cu were mainly derived from natural sources, while Mn, Zn, and Pb originated from agricultural and industrial activities, mining, and vehicular traffic.

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Spatial–Temporal Variations, Ecological Risk Assessment, and Source Identification of Heavy Metals in the Sediments of a Shallow Eutrophic Lake, China

Toxics ◽

10.3390/toxics10010016 ◽

2022 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

pp. 16

Author(s):

Xiaomei Su ◽

Hong Ling ◽

Dan Wu ◽

Qingju Xue ◽

Liqiang Xie

Keyword(s):

Heavy Metals ◽

Ecological Risk ◽

Anthropogenic Activities ◽

Risk Index ◽

Contamination Factor ◽

Principal Component ◽

Eutrophic Lake ◽

Temporal Variations ◽

The West ◽

Ecological Risk Index

The contamination of heavy metals (Pb, Cr, Hg, Cd, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, and Sb) in the sediments were investigated in Lake Yangcheng, a eutrophic lake in China. Results showed that the average concentrations of each metal in the surface sediments generally exceeded their corresponding background values. Higher values were observed in deeper zones, supporting the retention and accumulation of heavy metals in the core sediments. The spatial distributions of metal averages, pollution load index (PLI), and combined ecological risk index (RI) revealed that ecological risks were highest in the west lake, followed by middle lake, and were lowest in the east section. For the temporal variations of metal contents, the highest concentration was usually observed in the winter. However, the seasonal dynamics of Hg showed a different pattern with higher values in the autumn and lower values in the winter. According to contamination factor (CF), the Hg and Sb contaminations were considerable, while the other metals were moderate contamination. In terms of geoaccumulation index (Igeo) values, sediments were moderately–heavily polluted by Sb and moderately polluted by Hg, Cd, and Ni. Meanwhile, Hg exhibited a considerable health risk, while Cd and Sb were moderate risks, based on single ecological risk index (Er) values. Significant positive correlations among heavy metals and principal component analysis (PCA) indicated that anthropogenic activities were major sources. The source of Sb might be different from other metals, with industrial discharge as the main loading. This study highlighted the urgency of taking measures to prevent Hg, Sb, and Cd pollutions in Lake Yangcheng, especially the west region of this lake.

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

10.21203/rs.3.rs-368427/v1 ◽

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 waste water. 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 extremely strong, 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 Huafei River and its surrounding areas.

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Reforestation Impacted Soil Heavy Metal Fractionation and Related Risk Assessment in the Karst Area, Southwest China

Forests ◽

10.3390/f12070891 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (7) ◽

pp. 891

Author(s):

Qian Zhang ◽

Guilin Han ◽

Xingliang Xu

Keyword(s):

Heavy Metals ◽

Risk Assessment ◽

Ecological Risk ◽

Southwest China ◽

Risk Index ◽

Contamination Factor ◽

Karst Area ◽

Risk Assessment Code ◽

Bcr Sequential Extraction ◽

Soil Heavy Metals

Human agricultural activities have resulted in widespread land degradation and soil contamination in the karst areas. However, the effects of reforestation after agricultural abandonment on the mobility risks and contamination of heavy metals have been rarely reported. In the present study, six soil profiles were selected from cropland and abandoned cropland with reforestation in the Puding karst regions of Southwest China. The Community Bureau of Reference (BCR) sequential extraction method was used to evaluate the compositions of different chemical fractions of soil heavy metals, including Fe, Mn, Cr, Zn, Ni, and Cd. The total contents of Cr, Ni, Zn, Cd, and Mn in the croplands were significantly higher than those in the abandoned croplands. For all soils, Cr, Ni, Zn, and Fe were mainly concentrated in the residual fractions (>85%), whereas Mn and Cd were mostly observed in the non-residual fractions (>65%). The non-residual fractions of Cd, Cr, Ni, and Zn in the croplands were higher than those in the abandoned croplands. These results indicated that the content and mobility of soil heavy metals decreased after reforestation. The individual contamination factor (ICF) and risk assessment code (RAC) showed that Cd contributed to considerable contamination of karst soils. The global contamination factor (GCF) and potential ecological risk index (RI) suggested low contamination and ecological risk of the investigated heavy metals in the croplands, moreover they can be further reduced after reforestation.

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GEOCHEMISTRY AND ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT OF HEAVY METALS IN SURFACE SOIL IN AL-HAWIJA, SOUTHWEST KIRKUK

Iraqi Geological Journal ◽

10.46717/igj.53.2e.4ms-2020-11-26 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 53 (2E) ◽

pp. 36-61

Author(s):

Ahmed Al-Obeidi

Keyword(s):

Heavy Metals ◽

Soil Pollution ◽

Ecological Risk ◽

Inductively Coupled Plasma ◽

Surface Soil ◽

Risk Index ◽

Size Fraction ◽

Contamination Factor ◽

Pollution Load Index ◽

Anthropogenic Sources

Soil pollution adversely affects the safety and health of the human being. The main objective of the study is to determine the concentrations of heavy metals (As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb and Zn) in surface soil in Al-Hawija, southwestern Kirkuk. Twenty-one samples were collected and analyzed by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) to measure the content of heavy metals and assess the soil pollution by using the contamination factor, degree of contamination, geoaccumulation index, pollution load index and ecological risk index (RI). The results indicate that there is high pollution by lead, chromium and copper (78.8, 87.4 and 53.8 mg/kg) respectively, in industrial areas due to anthropogenic sources with the presence of significant ecological risk (Er) of the lead (116) in site S7, due to its high concentrations, while size fraction analysis indicated that all heavy metals are concentrated in the fine parts as a result of adsorption processes by clay minerals.

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Comparison of the Ecological Risk Index of Heavy Metals in the North of Persian Gulf: Hormozgan and Bushehr Provinces

Journal of Oceanography ◽

10.29252/joc.8.30.37 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 8 (30) ◽

pp. 37-45

Author(s):

Mehri Rezaei ◽

Ali Mehdinia ◽

Abolfazl Saleh ◽

Soroush Modabberi

Keyword(s):

Heavy Metals ◽

Ecological Risk ◽

Persian Gulf ◽

Risk Index ◽

Ecological Risk Index ◽

The North

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Distribution and Contamination Acessment of Heavy Metals in Sediments of Harbin Section of Songhua River, China

Advanced Materials Research ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/amr.955-959.2280 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 955-959 ◽

pp. 2280-2284

Author(s):

Kai Yue Gong ◽

Pei Shi Qi ◽

Yun Zhi Liu

Keyword(s):

Heavy Metals ◽

Ecological Risk ◽

Risk Index ◽

Potential Ecological Risk ◽

Risk Level ◽

Index Method ◽

Songhua River ◽

Ecological Risk Index ◽

Risk Levels ◽

Accumulation Index

In this study, the distribution and enrichment characters of heavy metals were explored. And the potential ecological risk levels of heavy metals were evaluated by geo-accumulation index method and potential ecological risk index method. The concentrations of heavy metals in sediments of Harbin section of Songhua River are: Zn>Pb>Cr>Cu>Ni>Cd. The enrichment degree of Zn is the highest, while Cd is the lowest. The potential ecological risk indexes of heavy metals in the sediments of section of Songhua River in Harbin are: Cd>Pb>Cu>Zn>Ni>Cr. The main heavy metals pollution is Cd, which has low content but considerable potential ecological risk and contributes most to RI. The ecological risk level of heavy metals in the sediments of the section of Songhua River in Harbin is moderate.

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