Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals in Surface Sediments from the Yanghe River, China
Key Laboratory of Ecosystem Network Observation and Modeling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2014, 11(12), 12441-12453; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph111212441
Received: 6 October 2014
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Revised: 20 November 2014
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Accepted: 21 November 2014
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Published: 28 November 2014
The magnitude and ecological relevance of metal pollution from the upstream of water sources after emergency pollution events was investigated by applying a set of complementary sediment quality assessment methods: (1) geochemical assessment based on background value (the geoaccumulation index); (2) comparisons with sediment quality guidelines (SQGs); (3) an evaluation of the combined pollution according to the risk index (RI); and (4) investigation of the chemical patterns of target heavy metals (Cd, Zn, Cr, Pb, Ni). The geoaccumulation indices (Igeo) suggested that the magnitude of heavy metal pollution of the sediment of Yanghe River decreased in the order of Cd > Zn > Pb > Cr > Ni. Risk analysis also suggested that Cd and Zn concentrations were sufficiently elevated as to cause adverse biological effects in this study area. According to the RI values, 27% of total sampling sites showed considerable ecological risk for the water body, and 53% of total sampling sites showed very high ecological risk for the waterbody. Sediment-bound Cd was found to be predominantly associated with the exchangeable phase of the sediment (25%–68%), while Cr, Ni, Zn and Pb showed the strongest association with the residual fractions (60%–92%, 53%–67%, 24%–85% and 35%–67%, respectively).
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Keywords:
emergency pollution event; Index of geoaccumulation; community bureau of reference (BCR); sediment quality guidelines; risk index
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MDPI and ACS Style
Li, J. Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals in Surface Sediments from the Yanghe River, China. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2014, 11, 12441-12453. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph111212441
AMA Style
Li J. Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals in Surface Sediments from the Yanghe River, China. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2014; 11(12):12441-12453. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph111212441
Chicago/Turabian StyleLi, Jing. 2014. "Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals in Surface Sediments from the Yanghe River, China" International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 11, no. 12: 12441-12453. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph111212441
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