Affiliation:
1. College of Life Sciences, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang 453007, China
2. Henan International Joint Laboratory of Agricultural Microbial Ecology and Technology, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang 453007, China
3. Department of Environmental Sciences, Kohsar University Murree, Murree 47150, Punjab, Pakistan
Abstract
Several methods have been used to assess heavy metal contamination in sediments. However, an assessment that considers both composite heavy metal speciation and concentration is necessary to accurately study ecological risks. This study improved the potential ecological risk index method and calculated the toxicity coefficients of seven heavy metals: Arsenic (As), Cadmium (Cd), Chromium (Cr), Copper (Cu), Nickel (Ni), Lead (Pb), and Zinc (Zn). The newly calculated toxicity coefficients were validated by using previously published heavy metal distribution data of the Henan section of the Yellow River. The calculation procedure is based on the principle that the abundance of heavy metals in the environment and their bioavailable forms affect the toxicity of heavy metals. The toxicity coefficients for the seven heavy metals were calculated as follows: As = 10, Cd = 20, Cr = 5, Cu = 2, Ni = 5, Pb = 5, Zn = 1. Ecological risk assessment of the Henan section of the Yellow River using the improved toxicity coefficients revealed that the ecological risk of Cd and total heavy metals is higher than previous calculations, reaching the strength and moderate risk levels, respectively. The improved potential ecological risk index method is more sensitive to heavy metal pollution and thus provides a better indication of ecological risk. This is a necessary improvement to provide more accurate pollution assessments.
Funder
Key Project of the National Natural Science Foundation of China-Henan Joint Fund
National Natural Science Foundation of China
Educational Commission of the Henan Province of China
Key Project of Natural Science of the Education Department of Henan Province of China
Science and Technology Project of Henan Province
Subject
Chemical Health and Safety,Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis,Toxicology
Cited by
2 articles.
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