Affiliation:
1. School of Geographical Sciences, Hunan Normal University, Changsha 410081, China
2. College of Resources, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410128, China
3. Key Laboratory of Environmental Heavy-Metal Contamination and Ecological Remediation, Hunan Normal University, Changsha 410081, China
Abstract
This study focuses on the riverbed sediments in the Changsha-Zhuzhou-Xiangtan (CS-ZZ-XT) section of the lower reaches of the Xiangjiang River. Principal element analysis, ecological risk analysis, and early warning methods were used to explore the distribution pattern and risk assessment of various chemical elements in the sediments. The results indicated that the vertical distributions of Sc, Co, Th, and U were more homogeneous, while Cr, V, Cu, and Ni distributed heterogeneously with significant changes. Risk assessment of heavy metals was explored by using the Geoaccumulation index, potential ecological risk index, and ecological risk index, suggesting that the contamination levels followed: ZZ > XT > CS. ZU and ZX points in the ZZ section exhibited the higher ecological risk. The ecological risk of heavy metals followed the order of: Pb > Cu > Zn > Ni > Co > Mn > V > Cr, and the contamination of Cd and Mn was located at the severe warning condition. Additionally, it was suggested that Th, U, Pb, Zn, Cu, and Mn mostly originated from both anthropogenic activities and natural processes, while Ni, Cr, Co, V, Sc, and Ba were derived from natural processes. Therefore, the contamination of Cd, Th, U, Pb, Zn, Cu, and Mn, especially Cd and Mn, should be considered by the environmental protection strategies in the studied watershed.
Funder
Aid Program for Science and Technology Innovative Research Team in Higher Educational Institutions of Hunan Province
Construction Program for the First-Class Disciplines
Subject
Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law,Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment,Geography, Planning and Development,Building and Construction
Reference46 articles.
1. Variability of streambed vertical hydraulic conductivity with depth along the Elkhorn River, Nebraska, USA;Song;Chin. Sci. Bull.,2009
2. Current situation and analysis of heavy metal pollution in the Xiangjiang River basin of Hunan province;Lei;J. Agric. Resour. Environ.,2010
3. Weathering of granodioritic crust, long-term storage of elements in weathering profiles, and petrogenesis of siliciclastic sediments;Markovics;Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta.,1997
4. Using stable lead isotopes to trace heavy metal contamination sources in sediments of Xiangjiang and Lishui Rivers in China;Sun;Environ. Pollut.,2011
5. Heavy metal fractionation in sediments from the Jarama River (central Spain);Villa;Environ. Earth Sci.,2015