Factors Controlling the Geochemical Partitioning of Trace Metals in Estuarine Sediments

The geochemical partitioning of trace metals in sediments is of great importance in risk assessment and remedial investigation. Selected factors that may control the partitioning behavior of Cu, Pb and Zn in non-sulfidic, estuarine sediments were examined with the use of combined sorption curve—sequential extraction analysis. This approach, which has not been previously used to examine estuarine sediments, allowed determination of sorption parameters for Cu, Pb and Zn partitioning to individual geochemical fractions. Partitioning behavior in sulfidic sediments was also determined by sequentially extracting Cu, Pb, and Zn from synthetic sulfide minerals and from natural sediment and pure quartz sand after spiking with acid-volatile sulfide (AVS). Trace metal sorption to the “carbonate” fraction (pH 5, NaOAc extraction) increased with metal loading due to saturation of sorption sites associated with the “Fe-oxide” (NH₂OH·HCl extraction) and “organic” (H₂O₂ extraction) fractions in non-sulfidic sediments. Freundlich parameters describing sorption to the “Fe-oxide” and “organic” fractions were controlled by the sediment Fe-oxide and organic carbon content, respectively. Sequential extraction of Cu from pure CuS, AVS-spiked sediment and AVS-spiked quartz sand showed that AVS-bound Cu was quantitatively recovered in association with the “organic” fraction. However, some AVS-bound Pb and Zn were recovered by the NH₂OH·HCl step (which has been previously interpreted as “Fe-oxide” bound metals) in the sequential extraction procedure used in this study. This indicates that the sequential extraction of Pb and Zn in sulfidic sediments may lead to AVS-bound metals being mistaken as Fe-oxide bound species. Caution should therefore be exercised when interpreting sequential extraction results for Pb and Zn in anoxic sediments.     

Assessment of Heavy Metal Pollution in Water and Sediments from the Ghalechay River,Baychebagh Copper Mine Area,Iran

The concentrations of selected heavy metals in sediments and waters in Baychebagh copper mine were determined using ICP-OES. Except for Co, the average concentrations of Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn in sediments from the Ghalechay River in the district exceed the world-average shale and continental upper crust value. Enrichment factors for Pb, Cu, and Cd were significantly enriched in sediments, indicating environmental contamination. Geoaccumulation index calculated for different sampling stations indicates that the sediments are unpolluted with respect to Co and Zn while unpolluted to moderately polluted with Cu and highly polluted with Pb and Cd. The Sediment Quality Guidelines (SQGs) suggest that Cd and Pb may pose the highest risk for the environment. Sequential extraction analyses of sediments revealed that Cu, Co, Pb, and Zn bound to extractable, carbonate, reducible and oxidizable fractions are lower than residual fraction. About 10% of the total Pb was associated with the exchangeable fraction, indicating remobilization, while Cd (89%), Pb (73%) Co (58%), Cu (76%), and Zn (68%) closely associated with the residual and oxidizable fractions, resulting in their environmental immobility. The residual forms are not expected to be released under normal conditions in the river and could be considered an inert phase.     

Distribution,bioavailability, and potential risk assessment of the metals in tributary sediments of Three Gorges Reservoir: The impact of water impoundment

To investigate the impact of water impoundment on the metal contamination in sediments cores from the three tributaries of Three Gorges Reservoir (TGR), the concentrations, distribution, bioavailability, and potential risk of eight trace metals between summer and winter were analyzed using sequential analysis. The mean contents of all studied metals were higher than the geochemical background value, and were higher in summer than in winter. The results of the partitioning study indicated that Cr and Ni prevailed in the residual fraction, while a small proportion was found in the easily soluble fractions. Cu and Zn were distributed mainly in the residual and reducible fraction, while Cd and Pb were predominantly associated with non-residual fractions. These observations suggested that the most easily mobilized metals in the study area were Cd and Pb. The mean enrichment factors (EF) of Cu, Zn, Cd and Hg were higher than 1.5, revealing the potential anthropogenic inputs, whilst the EF of other metals remained within the range of natural variability. The positive correlation between non-residual Cu, Zn and Cd and their EF values further indicated that anthropogenic inputs were the potentially major contributor for the enrichment of Cu, Zn and Cd in TGR sediments. The results evaluated by both potential ecological risk index and modified risk assessment code (mRAC) of all sampling sites demonstrated the relatively high potential risk of sediment contamination effect in TGR.     

铜锈环棱螺对沉积物中重金属的生物积累及其与重金属赋存形态的关系

以铜锈环棱螺（Bellamya aeruginosa）为测试生物,采用28 d沉积物生物积累试验研究铜锈环棱螺对污染河流沉积物中重金属的生物积累,并探讨其与重金属赋存形态的关系.结果表明：铜锈环棱螺肝胰脏对Cd、Pb、Cu、Cr、Zn和Mn均具有较强的积累作用.不同重金属的积累量存在较大差别,Zn的积累量最多,占重金属总积累量的84.32%±4.36%,其次为Cu,占7.67%±2.84%;Pb、Cr和Mn的比例相对较少,分别为3.62%±1.84%、2.22%±1.03%和1.33%±0.15%;Cd所占比例最少,为0.83%±0.53%.肝胰脏中重金属元素之间的相关性均不显著.肝胰脏金属污染指数与沉积物污染综合指数具有显著的正相关关系,铜锈环棱螺可以作为沉积物重金属污染的监测生物.不同沉积物Cd、Cr、Zn和Mn的生物-沉积物积累因子（BSAF）具有较大的差异,Cu和Pb的BSAF比较稳定.Cd的生物积累与沉积物中Cd的可交换的与酸可溶态及可氧化态显著相关;Pb的生物积累与Pb的可还原态显著相关;Cu的生物积累与Cu的可氧化态显著相关;Mn的生物积累与Mn的可交换的与酸可溶态和可还原态显著相关;Cr和Mn的生物积累与其不同形态和总量均不相关.BSAF不宜作为衡量铜锈环棱螺对沉积物中重金属生物积累能力的指标.     

Transfection of siRNA into <Emphasis Type="Italic">Brachionus plicatilis</Emphasis> (Rotifera)

Lake Taihu is one of the most contaminated lakes in China. Surface sediment data show that the northern area of the Lake has the worst heavy metals pollution, and high heavy metal concentrations were attributed to discharge of untreated and partially treated industrial waste water from cities to the north of the lake. To study geochemical features and pollution history of heavy metals, total content and chemical fractionations of Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn were analyzed for core sediments from western Lake Taihu using the speciation extraction procedure, proposed by the Commission of the European Communities Bureau of Reference (BCR), together with grain size and organic carbon measurements. Results show that sediments are composed of organic-poor clayey-fine silts for Cores MS and DLS, and have similar geochemical features shown by heavy metals. Cu, Fe, Ni, and Zn mainly are associated with the residue fraction, Mn is concentrated in the exchangeable-carbonate and residue fractions, and Pb is concentrated in the Fe–Mn oxide fraction and organic-sulfide fraction. The fractions of Ni, Pb, and Zn bound to Fe–Mn oxide show significant correlations with Mn from the Fe–Mn oxide fraction, and the organic-sulfide fractions of Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn are correlated with TOC. The increase of Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn content and percentage of extractable fractions in the upper layers of the sediments are correlated with anthropogenic input of heavy metals due to rapid industrial development. This coincides with rapid economic development in the Taihu basin since late 1970s. Heavy metals in the surface sediments have certain potential biological toxicity as shown by the higher SEM/AVS ratio.     

浙江油茶产地土壤和果实金属元素含量特征

为探讨油茶(Camellia oleifera)产地土壤和油茶果实中金属元素分布和富集特征,在油茶果实成熟期,对浙江5个油茶产地土壤及油茶果实中金属元素进行污染分析和富集能力评价.结果表明,浙江油茶产地土壤中Pb、Cr、Cd、As、Hg、Ni、Cu和Zn含量低于农用地土壤污染风险筛选值,综合污染等级为安全.个别产区常山...     

Partitioning of Zn,Cd, Pb,and Cu in organic-rich soil profiles in the vicinity of a zinc smelter

Abstract

A five-step sequential extraction procedure was applied to organic-rich soil samples from five soil profiles situated 1–8 km from a zinc smelter. The partitioning of Zn, Cd, Pb, and Cu into five operationally defined fractions (exchangeable, “carbonate’’-bound, reducible, oxidizable, and residual) was studied at different soil depths down to 35cm. In the surface soil (0–1 cm) a major part of Pb and Cu was extracted in the oxidizable fraction, whereas for Zn and Cd slightly more was extracted in the ‘‘carbonate”-fraction than in the other four fractions. Extracted metal proportions in the oxidizable fraction were respectively of the order of 30%, 20%, 50%, and 80% for Zn, Cd, Pb, and Cu in the surface soil for all sites, but these proportions decreased with soil depth. In the surface soil less than 20% of all the elements were extracted in the residual fraction, but the proportions associated with this fraction generally increased with soil depth. In the C-horizon, differences in extracted proportions of Pb and Cu in the residual fraction were probably due to geochemical factors, whereas for Zn the low extracted proportion at a highly contaminated site (20%) may be due to Zn migration to the C-horizon at this site. For Cd the extracted proportions in the C-horizon were lower than for the other elements, generally below 20%, presumably because Cd is weaker in terms of its adsorption to the soil than the other elements studied. Total concentrations of the metals decreased strongly with increasing distance from the smelter, but less systematic differences were observed for their distributions among fractions. Potentially bioavailable metal proportions (exchangeable + “carbonate”-bound fraction) in the surface soil were about 50%, 60%, 20%, and 10% for Zn, Cd, Pb, and Cu, respectively. In C-horizon soil the mobility sequence Cd>Zn>Pb = Cu was generally observed. The present results indicate that the concentrations and chemical fractionation of Zn, Pb, and Cd in these soils represent a considerable risk to natural terrestrial food chains.     

Heavy Metals (Cd,Cu, Ni,Pb, and Zn) Fractionation in River Sediments,Hamedan, Western Iran

Five heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn) in river sediments from Abshineh River, Hamedan, western Iran, were fractionated by a sequential extraction procedure. Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn existed in sediments mainly in residual fraction (mean 92%, 86%, 77%, and 65%, respectively), whereas Cd occurred mostly as organic matter (mean 41%) and exchangeable (mean 25%) fractions. The mean percent of mobile fraction of Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn in contaminated sediments was 25, 13, 4, 24, and 10, respectively, which suggests that the mobility and bioavailability of the five metals in sediments probably decline in the following order: Cd = Pb > Cu > Zn > Ni. The metal levels were also evaluated according to the contamination factor, which revealed significant anthropogenic pollution of Cd and Pb.     

Seasonal Variation of Acid Volatile Sulfide and Simultaneously Extracted Metals in Sediment Cores from the Pearl River Estuary

The simultaneously extracted metals/acid volatile sulfide (SEM/AVS) method is widely used to estimate the toxicity of metals in sediment. In this study, SEM and AVS concentrations were obtained by the cold-acid purge-and-trap technique during spring (April) and winter (December) at six sites in the Pearl River estuary. Total organic carbon, grain size distribution, and total metals were also measured in winter samples. AVS concentrations in spring sediments were slightly higher than those in winter sediments, except at site 2. AVS concentrations showed more distinct locational and temporal variation compared with SEM concentrations. Generally, AVS contents increased downcore, whereas SEM concentrations decreased slightly with depth. Higher SEM concentrations were observed in the west shoal (sites 2, 6, and 7) and site 4 (1.24 ～ 4.28 μmol?g^?1) compared with those at sites 1 and 3 (0.73 ～ 2.14 μmol?g^?1) in the middle shoal. Most SEM metals have a significant linear positive correlation with the total metals, especially for Cd, Zn, and Pb, which were easily extracted by 1 M HCl compared with Cr and Ni. According to the toxicity threshold value of 1.7 μmol?g^?1 for the difference of SEM-AVS, a toxic effect is expected at sites 1, 2, and 4 in spring and at sites 4, 6, and 7 in winter, which also indicates a relatively obvious seasonal variation in heavy metal bioavailability. However, comparisons between the total heavy metal concentrations in winter sediments with the sediment quality guidelines of ERLs/ERMs and TELs/PELs showed that adverse biological effects may occasionally occur at sites 2, 4, 6, and 7. Therefore, SEM/AVS prediction in conjunction with sediment quality guidelines can give a more reliable evaluation of the bioavailability of heavy metal in sediments.     

强还原过程对设施菜地土壤重金属形态转化的影响

设施菜地由于污水灌溉、粪肥施用等导致重金属污染.本文通过土柱淹水同时添加玉米秸秆培养和后期通水淋洗,研究强还原法对设施土壤重金属(Cd、Cu、Pb和Zn)形态转化的影响.结果表明: 强还原处理使土壤pH显著降低,玉米秸秆处理变化更显著;土壤氧化还原电位(Eh)迅速下降至-280 mV左右.玉米秸秆处理可以促进土壤中Cd、Cu、Pb和Zn活化,第9天土壤中有机物及硫化物结合态和残渣态Cd、Cu、Pb和Zn含量比重下降;至15 d培养结束,土壤中4种重金属含量较对照分别减少18.1%、19.0%、16.1%和15.7%.玉米秸秆处理可以增加土壤中Cd和Zn的溶出量,但是Cu的溶出量减少;胶体结合态Cd和Pb含量较对照增加、Cu较对照显著减少、Zn没有显著变化.强还原可以引起设施土壤重金属活化,提高蔬菜积累重金属的风险,而且其随土壤水分的运移可能导致水体的污染.     

水体沉积物中酸可挥发性硫化物(AVS)研究进展

水体沉积物中酸可挥发性硫化物 (AVS)是总硫含量中活性最高的部分 ,是沉积物中有毒重金属的重要结合形态 ,它的含量在很大程度上影响着沉积物重金属的生物有效性 ,从而作为沉积物中有毒重金属环境污染评价的一个重要指标 ;就十多年来水体沉积物中酸可挥发性硫化物 (AVS)的研究进行了综述。概述了 AVS的测定方法及其影响因素 ;探讨了水体沉积物中 AVS含量时空变化的规律 ;同时就目前“同时可提取重金属”(SEM)与 AVS摩尔浓度比值和水体沉积物重金属生物毒性关系的研究进行了概括和分析。     

Distribution and risk assessment of heavy metals in river surface sediments of middle reach of Xijiang River basin,China

Xijiang River is the main surface water source in Guangxi province, South China. This study was carried out to investigate the distribution and potential ecological risks of seven heavy metals (Cu, Pb, Zn, As, Cd, Ni, and Cr) in surface sediments in Xijiang River basin. The results illustrated that the average concentrations of Zn, Pb, Cd, Cu, As, Ni, and Cr were 483.9, 207.5, 13.35, 23.50, 312.1, 28.75, and 50.62 mg/kg, respectively. Among them, Zn, Pb, Cd, and As were the major heave metals with concentration exceeding Class 3 threshold value of Chinese national standard. The result also showed samples with high ecological risk were mainly located in the upstream of Xijiang River basin as Diaojiang River, Hongshui River, Jincheng River, and Dahuan River. Based on the pollution risk assessment, the area manifested composite pollution of heavy metals in the sediments, signifying As, Pb, and Cd as the dominant heavy metals, and there were high ecological risk in sediments for these metals. According to correlation matrix and factor analysis (FA), the seven heavy metals were divided into three types/classes, Cd, as and Zn attributed by anthropogenic sources, natural sources corresponds for Ni and Cr while both natural and anthropogenic sources were attributed to Cu.     

The Concentration and Partitioning of Heavy Metals in Surface Sediments of the Maharlu Lake,SW Iran

In this study, an assessment is made of the environmental impacts of heavy metal concentration and fractionation in bed sediments of the saline Maharlu Lake, SW Iran. Total elemental analysis indicated that sediments were highly enriched in Pb and Cd. Sequential extraction analysis revealed that salt of the lake is probably highly contaminated with Cd, Pb, and Co. Due to the oxidizing conditions of the lake, the organic matter fraction of the elements was not significant. In all sediments, Cd, Pb, Co, Mn, and Zn were strongly associated with exchangeable plus carbonate fractions, with mean percentage of 76.4%, 65.3%, 56%, 40.9%, and 34.3%, respectively. On average, the percentage of Ni associated with the sum of the exchangeable and carbonate fractions was 19.8%. Cr, Fe, and Cu fractionation indicated that these metals are environmentally inert and immobile. Statistical relationships among metal fractions and sediment properties showed that Cd, Pb, Zn, Ni, Co, and Mn were mainly from recent anthropogenic sources, while such sources were less important for Cr, Cu, and Fe. The latter metals represented natural geochemical levels.     

Contrasting two methods for determining trace metal partitioning in oxidized lake sediments

A simultaneous (SIM) sediment extraction procedure for low carbonate sediments, which partitions sediment-bound trace metals (Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, and Cd) into easily reducible (associated with Mn oxides), reducible (associated with Fe oxides) and alkaline extracted (bound to organic) metal is presented. The SIM method was compared to the sequential (SEQ) extraction procedure of Tessier et al. (1979). Both methods showed good agreement for the partitioning of Zn and Cd among the easily reducible, reducible and organic components of sediment. Both methods also showed the same general distribution of Mn, Fe and Cu among the three sediment components, however concentrations of metals recovered by the two methods differed; less Mn and Fe and more Cu was recovered from sediments by the SEQ vs. the SIM procedure. Less recovery of Mn is in part attributed to the loss of this metal in the `in between' reagent rinses required in the SEQ procedure. Greater recovery of Cu by the SEQ vs. the SIM method may be due to the pretreatment of sediment with strong reducing agents prior to the step used for liberating organically bound metals. Advantages of a SIM over the SEQ include rapid sample processing time (i.e. the treatment of 40 samples per day vs. 40 samples in three days), plus minimal sample manipulation. Hence, for partitioning metals into easily reducible, reducible and organic sediment components in sediments low in carbonate, we recommend the use of a SIM extraction over that of a SEQ procedure.     

Characterization of Heavy Metal Fractions in Agricultural Soils by Sequential Extraction Procedure: The Relationship Between Soil Properties and Heavy Metal Fractions

The present research was conducted to determine heavy metals in agricultural soils from Çanakkale, Turkey, using a sequential extraction procedure (acid soluble, reducible, oxidizable, and residual) as proposed by the Community Bureau of Reference (BCR) of the European Commission. Soil samples were taken from 12 different cultivated sites and analyzed for Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn concentrations. The results revealed an order of Mn > Cd > Pb > Co > Ni > Cu > Zn > Cr for the heavy metals based on the sum of the first three fractions (acid soluble + reducible + oxidizable). The relationships between soil properties and each metal fraction were identified through Pearsons's correlation analysis. Hierarchical cluster analysis was performed to determine the behaviors and similarities of metals in each fraction. While Mn, Pb, and Zn exhibited subjective behaviors in the acid-soluble fraction, Cd, Co, Cu, Cr, and Ni exhibited similar behaviors with each other.     

Preliminary study on heavy metals contamination of soil using solid phase speciation and the influence on groundwater in Bozanta–Baia Mare Area,Romania

Abstract

A preliminary study on soil contamination with heavy metals and As based on solid phase speciation according to the Tessier scheme and the influence on groundwater in an area under anthropogenic influence (Bozanta-Baia Mare, Romania) was conducted. The partitioning of Al, As, Cd, Cu, Fe, Mn, Pb and Zn in five fractions is discussed in relation to soil characteristics, pH, organic matter content, mineralogical composition and distribution of the same elements in airborne particulate matter. The airborne particulate matter contains high quantities of As, Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn as exchangeable fraction. The sequential extraction carried out on soil samples revealed the main role of Fe-Mn oxides surface in the immobilization of metals. Organic matter has a specific role in complexation of Cu, Pb, As and Al, since high contents of these metals were recovered in the oxidizable fraction. Cadmium has a high selectivity for carbonate minerals. The amendment of soil with natural fertilizer increases the exchangeable fraction of metals with the highest toxicity. The available fraction for plants (exchangeable + carbonate-bound species) exceeded the alert values in soil, therefore the continuous monitoring of the area is necessary. The soil is unsuitable for agricultural use due to high contamination on surface with toxic elements resulted from anthropogenic activities. Groundwater is contaminated with very toxic elements (As, Cd and Pb) but also with Cu, Mn and Zn and is unsuitable as supply for drinking water.     

Fate of Heavy Metal Contaminants in Road Dusts and Gully Sediments in Guangzhou,SE China: A Chemical and Mineralogical Assessment

The urban environment of Guangzhou, the largest industrialized center in SE China, has elevated levels of heavy metals. In places, Cu, Pb, and Zn contents exceed 490, 920, and 1,820 mg/kg, respectively. The accumulation of these contaminants is likely to accelerate as a consequence of rapid economic and industrial growth in the region. Understanding of the possible fate of the contaminants is therefore imperative in order to assess their potential long-term ecological impacts. This article documents the results of a sequential extraction procedure involving five operationally defined fractions to determine the chemical partitioning of Cu, Pb, and Zn in the urban deposits represented by road dusts and corresponding gully sediments. Special emphasis was given to the mineralogical characteristics of the urban deposits. Road dusts were mainly composed of quartz, K-Feldspar, plagioclase, and calcite, and contained minor amounts of mica and clay minerals. The corresponding gully sediments, however, typically contained minor amounts of calcite, mica, and clay minerals, and were dominated by quartz and K-feldspar. The road dusts and gully sediments exhibited comparable chemical partitioning patterns of Cu, Pb, and Zn, despite significant differences in the relative abundances of minerals, especially of calcite. Lead and Zn occurred mainly in the operationally defined carbonate/ specifically adsorbed (Pb: 48%; Zn: 50%) and Fe-Mn (Pb: 36%; Zn: 27%) phases, whereas Cu was largely associated with the organic (70%) and residual (15%) phases. In general, the residual phases of the heavy metal contaminants were equal or less than 15%, suggesting their dominantly anthropogenic origin. The relative mobility and bioavailability of the heavy metals in the urban deposits of Guangzhou was: Pb ～ Zn > Cu. The ever-increasing accumulations of heavy metals may pose a threat in the region both to the environment and to human health.     

苍南海洋倾倒区沉积物中酸可挥发性硫化物与重金属的研究

为了更清楚认识倾倒区海域沉积物的污染状况,测定了苍南海洋倾倒区海域表层沉积物中酸可挥发性硫化物(AVS)、酸可提取重金属(SEM)的含量,并对AVS、SEM、及ΣSEM-AVS的平面分布进行分析.结果表明,该倾倒区表层沉积物中AVS含量为0.19-1.88μmol·g^-1,倾倒区附近海域AVS含量高于周边海域;SEM平均含量为2.4μmol·g^-1,SEM含量往倾倒区方向有增加趋势.从单个重金属对ΣSEM的贡献率来看,Zn>Cr>Cu>Pb>Cd,SEMZn基本在50%以上,而SEMCd均在1%以下,其分布形态主要受Zn的控制.ΣSEM-AVS差值均大于0,且在倾倒区及附近海域其ΣSEM-AVS值高于沿岸各站,说明倾倒区海域沉积物中重金属对生物可能有一定毒性,具有潜在重金属生态风险.     

Influences on copper bioaccumulation,growth, and survival of the midge,Chironomus tentans,in metal-contaminated sediments

Sediment bioassays with larvae of the midge, Chironomus tentans, were used to evaluate influences on the bioavailability and toxicity of copper (Cu) in sediments with a wide range of concentrations of metals, acid-volatile sulfide (AVS), and other physicochemical characteristics. Sediments were collected from sixteen lakes in Michigan, USA, and from twelve sites in the Clark Fork River drainage of Montana, USA, which are contaminated with metals from mining activities and from other anthropogenic sources. Bioassays with C. tentans larvae were conducted for ten days in a static-renewal test system, with endpoints of survival, growth, and metal bioaccumulation. Bioaccumulation of copper (Cu) was strongly correlated with Cu concentrations in porewater, and was increased significantly at Cu concentrations less than those affecting growth or survival. Midge survival and growth were not significantly correlated with concentrations of Cu in sediment or porewater, and were poorly predicted by ratios of acid-extractable metals to AVS in sediments. Principal components analysis indicated that Cu concentrations in porewater and bioaccumulation of Cu by midge larvae were influenced by AVS, sediment organic carbon, and porewater pH, and that toxicity was associated with high concentrations of Cu, high concentrations of zinc (Zn) and ammonia. No toxicity was observed in several sediments which contained low concentrations of AVS and high concentrations of Cu and Zn. In sediments which contain little AVS, bioavailability of metals may be controlled by constituents other than sulfides, such as organic matter and metal hydrous oxides. These results indicate that assessments of toxicity in metal-contaminated sediments should evaluate the importance of metal-binding phases other than sulfides, and the possible contributions of ammonia or other toxicants to toxicity in sediment bioassays.The U.S. Government right to retain a non-exclusive, royalty-free licence in and to any copyright is acknowledged.     

Heavy metals in surface sediments of lakes in Guangzhou public parks in China and their relations with anthropogenic activities and urbanization

This study aimed to investigate the pollution of heavy metals in the sediments of park lakes in Guangzhou, which is a large city with rapid urbanization, industrialization, and dense population in South China. Thirty-two surface sediment samples were collected from seven lakes in different districts of this city. The concentrations and distributions of Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, and Pb were measured to assess the level of enrichment and toxicity in the sediments. The enrichment factor showed that Pb and Zn showed severe enrichment in all lakes except for the Dafu Shan Forest Park (DFS), and the geo-accumulation index (I_geo) showed that all lakes were polluted with Cu, Pb, Cd, Ni, and Zn in different levels. The results of risk assessment indicated that the DFS located in the suburbs represented moderate risks; however, other lakes in the city central represented high or very high risks. Moreover, Cd had the primary contribution to the risk of the sediments' environment in urban lakes. Multivariate statistical analyses are carried out to explore the correlativity between heavy metals and human development indices. This study indicated that the levels of heavy metals' contamination and ecological risk of urban lakes in Guangzhou have a close relationship with anthropogenic activities.