Geochemical speciation and ecological risk assessment of heavy metals in surface soils collected from the Yellow River Delta National Nature Reserve,China

In this study, a comprehensive assessment of soil heavy metal (HMs) pollution in the Yellow River Delta National Nature Reserve (YRDNNR) was conducted. Spatial distributions, chemical fractions, and sources of eight HMs (Cu, Zn, Pb, Cr, Cd, Fe, Mn, and Ni) in 46 soil samples in the studied region were analyzed. In addition, the potential risks of the HMs were evaluated. The results showed that the mean concentrations of Cu, Zn, Pb, Cr, Cd, Fe, Mn, and Ni were 19.4, 65.2, 38.4, 55.9, 0.078, 41546.5, 510.3, and 27.5 mg kg^?1, respectively. It indicates that the concentrations of most HMs, with exception of Pb and Fe, in samples were similar to the background value of soil in China. Principal component analysis results showed that the HMs originated mainly from natural sources, but Pb pollution in the studied area was significantly caused by anthropogenic activities. In addition, Ecological risk assessment statistical analysis indicates that the HM contamination level in YRDNNR ranged from low to moderately polluted, however, the environmental risk due to Mn and Pb contamination was high.     

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.     

Assessment of potentially toxic heavy metals and health risk in water,sediments, and different fish species of River Kabul,Pakistan

Contamination of freshwater bodies and consequently freshwater fish with toxic heavy metals is a serious environmental issue. The trophic transfer of potentially toxic heavy metals in the human food chains, especially in fish has important implications for human health. The present research study was designed to assess the concentrations of the heavy metals Cr, Ni, Cd, and Pb in the water, sediments, and different freshwater fish species of River Kabul, Pakistan. The heavy metals were quantified in the samples with Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. Heavy metal contamination in fish muscles was characterized in terms of metal pollution index and biota-sediments accumulation factor, while human health risk was assessed through calculation of estimated weekly intake. The average concentrations of Cr, Ni, Cd, and Pb in muscle samples of the analyzed fish species at different sampling sites of the river ranged from 12.3 to 33.0, 33.2 to 109.2, 0.98 to 1.5, and 13.9 to 29.6 mg kg^?1 wet weight, respectively. Based on the current study data, consumption of the analyzed freshwater fish species from River Kabul was generally safe in terms of potential risk from Cd and Pb but the observed Ni accumulation may pose a potential health risk to regular/excessive fish consumers.     

赣江上游沉积物重金属空间分布及污染特征

为了解赣江上游表层沉积物重金属污染特征,采集赣江上游38个样品,采用电感耦合等离子体质谱仪(ICP-MS,Agilent 8800)分析沉积物中重金属含量,结合内梅罗综合污染指数法、地累积指数法、主成分分析及沉积物质量基准等研究赣江上游沉积物中重金属污染程度,分析污染物可能的来源及评价其存在的生态风险。结果表明:赣江上游沉积物中W、Cr、Mn、Cu、Zn、As、Cd、Hg、Pb等9种重金属的平均含量分别为12.30、4.40、999.84、9.72、293.81、47.66、2.85、1.34、63.68 mg·kg-1;除Cr和Cu外,其余7种重金属的平均值均超过江西省土壤背景值。内梅罗综合污染评价表明,赣江上游表层沉积物中47.37%的采样点呈严重污染,28.95%采样点污染明显,其中污染程度章水段>桃江段>贡江段;地积累指数法显示,Mn、As、W、Pb呈轻度污染,Cd和Hg呈中度或偏重度污染;主成分分析显示,As、W、Hg、Pb具有相似的污染源,Cr和Mn具有相似的污染源;沉积物质量基准分析表明,对底栖生物可能产生毒性效应的重金属主要是Cd和Hg,主要分布在章水段和桃...     

Ecological risk assessment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in surface sediments from the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River,China

In this research, ecological risks for eight individual polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and ∑PAH₈ in surface sediments from middle and lower reaches of Yellow River are evaluated using overlapping areas of probability density curves and margin of safety (MOS), based on the toxicity data and the exposure concentrations of PAHs in sediments collected from 23 sites. In the overlapping areas of probability density curves, the risk of Ant and Pyr are the highest, then the risk level is in the order of Flua > Nap > Phe > BaP > Flu > Ace. The values of MOS₁₀ present that Pyr (4.62 × 10^?4), Ant (5.60 × 10^?3), and Flua (6.4 × 10^?3) have a significantly high ecological risk level, while Nap and Phe have middle-level ecological risk. As for Ace, BaP, and Flu, they pose limited risk to the ecological system with MOS₁₀ greater than 1.0. The ∑PAH₈ (2.66 × 10^?5) is a higher risk level than that of any individual PAHs, where the probabilities of ∑PAH₈ in excess of the 10th percentile of the toxicity data were 86%.     

调水调沙工程黄河口近岸沉积物重金属和砷含量的空间分布及其生态风险评估

为了明确调水调沙工程长期影响下黄河口近岸沉积物中重金属含量的分布特征及其生态风险,基于2012年黄河口近岸27个站位的表层沉积物样品,通过ICP-MS测定重金属(Zn、Cr、Ni、Pb、Cu、Cd)和砷(As)含量,并运用潜在生态风险指数法(RI)对其进行生态风险评估。结果表明:近岸沉积物中重金属和As的平均含量表现为AsZnCrNiPbCuCd。Cr、Ni、Cu和Pb四种元素的分布规律较为一致,整体呈现出近岸和近黄河口高而远离河口和岸线低的空间分异特征。Ni、Cu、Pb、Zn与粘土均呈极显著或显著正相关(P0.01或P0.05),而Cd、Cr和As与其相关性均未达到显著水平(P0.05)。近岸沉积物中6种重金属和As的平均单项潜在生态风险指数大小顺序整体表现为CdAsNiPbCuCrZn。就潜在生态风险(RI)而言,研究区域18.52%的站位属轻微生态危害,70.07%的站位属中等生态危害,7.41%的站位属强生态危害,Cd和As是造成危害的两种主要元素。近岸沉积物中重金属和As的来源复杂且多样,主要是由于农业化肥使用、海上石油开采和泄漏、化石燃料燃烧以及河口污染物输入所致。对比研究发现,随着调水调沙工程的长期实施,除Cd和As外沉积物中其他重金属含量均呈下降趋势,说明二者的生态风险将会随调水调沙的长期实施呈增加趋势,而其他重金属的生态风险将呈降低趋势,故未来应重点关注近岸沉积物中Cd和As的生态毒理风险。     

Seasonal and spatial variations of heavy metals in surface sediments collected from the Baoxiang River in the Dianchi Watershed,China

To explore potential ecological hazards due to heavy metals in the Dianchi Lake Watershed, a three-stage European Community Bureau of Reference (BCR) sequential extraction procedure was applied to examine the spatial distributions and relative speciation ratios of Zn, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Cr in Baoxiang River sediments during wet and dry seasons. The metal species have similar spatial variations during different seasons. In the upstream reaches of the Baoxiang River, heavy metals reside primarily in the non-extractable residual fraction (72–90%). In the midstream, the residual fraction (35–89%) remains dominant, but the extractable fraction increases, featuring especially notable increases in the reducible fraction (5–40%). Downstream, the Cu, Ni, Pb, and Cr residual fractions remain high (46–80%) and the extractable fractions increase rapidly; the Zn extractable fraction is quite high (65.5%). Anthropogenic sources drive changes in heavy metal speciation. Changes in the river environment, such as pH and oxidation-reduction potential, also affect speciation. The reducible fraction of heavy metals in Baoxiang River sediments is most sensitive to pH. Potential ecological risk assessments for these five elements indicate that risks from Zn and Pb are mild to moderate in the middle and lower reaches of the river.     

Evaluation of three different types of nitrogen,heavy metals,and endocrine disruptors in water and sediments of Wenyu River

Concentrations of NO₃^?(nitrate), NO₂^?(nitrite), NH₄⁺(ammonia nitrogen), Mn, Fe, Ba, As, Se, Cd, Pb, Cr⁶⁺, estrone (E1), estradiol (E2), ethinylestradiol (EE2), estriol (E3), bisphenol A (BPA), nonylphenol (NP) and 4-tert-octylphenol (OP) had been estimated in water and sediments of Wenyu River. Using single factor, ecological risk assessment, geoaccumulation index, human health risk assessment and multivariate statistical analysis, we described the current situation of river contamination, human health risks of different age groups and possible sources of pollutants as well as their transformation characteristics. The results showed that main contaminants were NH₄⁺, NO₃^?, NO₂^?, EE2 and E3, E1 in water, while sediments have been slightly polluted by heavy metals, whose order of polluting degree is Zn>Cr⁶⁺>Cd>Cu. Residents in the study area are exposed to the risk, and EE2 made the greatest contribution to it. E1, As, and NO_3^- also affect negatively on the health of the residents, and NO_2^- only do harm to juveniles. Human activities and industrial production are main sources of contaminants, also they can transform into each other between water and sediments. Heavy metal ions can be easily precipitated by Ferric oxide or hydroxide, E2 and EE2 are also transformed into E3 in natural environment.     

Distribution,speciation, and ecological risk assessment of heavy metals in surface sediments of Jiaozhou Bay,China

This paper analyzed the distribution and speciation of seven heavy metals in sediments in Jiaozhou Bay. The ecological risk was assessed using three index approaches (i.e., risk assessment code (RAC), contamination factor (CF), and potential ecological risk index (PERI)) and by a comparison with sediment quality guidelines (Chinese Marine Sediment Quality Standards (CMSQS), and threshold effect level (TEL) and probable effect level (PEL) from the USEPA). Pb, Cr, As, Cu, Zn, and Hg contents at most sites were above the corresponding TEL and Class I criteria (CMSQS) value. Particularly, high contents of Cu, detected at sites S₇ (124.5 mg kg^?1) and S₈ (118.3 mg kg^?1), exceeded the respective PEL value, indicating that harmful biological effects might occur. Speciation analysis, individual CF, and RAC calculations suggested that Cd had the highest bioavailable fraction and thus posed a very high risk to aquatic ecosystem; Cu and Zn showed a medium–high risk. Both global CF and PERI analysis indicated a high pollution risk at sites S₇, S₁, S₃, and S₂, but the assessments of specific sites were different. The incomplete consistency suggested that it is necessary to consider both total contents and chemical speciation for providing a more realistic appraisal for the risk of heavy metals in sediments.     

Environmental Monitoring of Heavy Metal Status and Human Health Risk Assessment in the Agricultural Soils of the Jinxi River Area,China

Soil contamination with heavy metals is one of the main environmental concerns in China, mainly owing to rapid industrialization and mining activities in certain areas. The current study aimed at monitoring the levels of heavy metals in soils of the industrial areas along the Jinxi River and surrounding Lake Qingshan. In addition, a health risk assessment for humans in contact with these soils was also conducted. The results revealed that the soils of the studied areas were contaminated with Cr, Cu, As, Se, Cd, Pb, and Zn and that the industrial activities were the main source of soil contamination therein. Furthermore, soils of the sites adjacent to Lin’an city exhibited higher levels of heavy metals than the upstream and Lake Qingshan sites. Most of the studied heavy metals tended to concentrate in the fine soil fractions (PM100, PM10, and PM2.5). Calculation of the hazard index (HI) revealed that humans, especially children, have potential health risks. Moreover, As was found to contribute to more magnitude of cancer risks. Thus, we concluded that the unmanaged development negatively affects the Chinese environment and human health. Furthermore, fine fractions of soil particles should be considered for risk assessment.     

Assessments of contamination and human health risks of heavy metals in the road dust from a mining county in Guangxi,China

A total of 32 road dust samples were collected from mining areas and a control area in Nandan County, Guangxi, in order to investigate the contamination characteristics of heavy metals and associated health risks to local residents. The results indicated that elevated concentrations of As, Cd, Cu, Pb, Sb, and Zn were found in road dust in mining areas compared with control areas and background values. Pearson's correlation analysis and principal component analysis indicated that As, Cd, Cu, Pb, Sb, and Zn in road dust mainly originated from anthropogenic sources (e.g., vehicles emission, mining activities, and smelting activities), whereas Cr, Co, and Ni were associated with natural sources (e.g., soil weathering). Furthermore, noncarcinogenic hazards to both adults and children were found in mining areas, while noncarcinogenic health risks in the control area were negligible. The health hazard was mostly ascribed to the ingestion, followed by the dermal contact, and the inhalation. The cancer risks from As, Cd, Co, Cr, and Ni in all studied areas were within safe levels as the R values were below the threshold of 1 × 10^?6.     

Chemical speciation distribution characteristics and ecological risk assessment of heavy metals in soil from Sunan mining area,Anhui Province,China

In this study, the content characteristics, comprehensive pollution assessment, and morphological distribution characteristics of heavy metals (Mn, Cd, Cr, Pb, Ni, Zn, and Cu) were researched based on the processes of field investigation, sample collection, and experimental analysis. Results showed that the mean concentrations of Mn, Pb, Cr, Cu, Cd, Zn, and Ni in surface soils were 522.77, 22.56, 55.10, 25.41, 0.25, 57.02, and 48.47 mg kg^?1, respectively. The surface soil from Sunan mining area was contaminated by Cu, Cd, and Ni in different degrees, and high CV values of Cd, Zn, Pb, and Ni were influenced by local human activities possibly. The evaluation results suggested that the mean I_geo values were in the sequence of Cd (0.657) > Ni (0.052) > Cu (?0.293) > Mn (?0.626) > Zn (?0.761) > Cr (?0.884) > Pb (?0.899). Besides, Cd was the most significant potential risk factor among all elements. Nevertheless, the Cd of bioavailable speciations with higher proportion had stronger migration and toxicity, and was more easier to be absorbed and enriched than other elements by some crops (e.g., vegetables, rice), and being at a relatively higher potential ecological risk in soil.     

黄河流域中上游林草生态调节服务功能价值核算

科学评估林草生态系统服务功能价值,对于掌握流域生态资产储量,推动高质量发展与生态保护具有重要基础性意义。基于多源数据开展林草生态服务功能价值的高分辨率核算及空间格局分析,结果表明：集成运用遥感产品、气象数据以及生态统计调查数据等多源数据,并参考已有生态服务价值评估规范和文献资料,构建的1km×1km像素尺度林草生态系统调节服务功能价值体系,克服了传统统计监测数据在准确度和研究粒度方面的局限,为系统、协同的区域生态治理提供依据;2015年黄河中上游流域林草生态调节服务功能价值为18997.69亿元,其中森林提供11833.11亿元,草地提供7164.58亿元;单位面积林草生态调节服务价值高值区域为青海-甘肃、陕西-山西境内水热条件较好的山地,低值连片区域广布在中部黄土高原,这与森林郁闭度、草地盖度以及区域降水、地形等自然条件有关;在黄河流域生态保护与高质量发展中,应注重以生态服务功能为基础,突破行政区边界限制,建立生态产品价值实现机制,提升区域高质量发展中生态效益的价值权重。     

Spatial and seasonal characteristics of dissolved heavy metals in the aquaculture areas of Beibu Gulf,South China

Abstract

To study the contamination of heavy metals in the aquaculture area of Beibu Gulf, the concentrations of seven metals in seawater were investigated. The results showed that significant seasonal and spatial distributions of heavy metals were observed in the four aquaculture areas. Generally, the heavy-metal concentrations in the Maowei Sea were higher than the other three aquaculture areas, which may be related to local industrialization and urbanization development. The concentrations of some metals were obviously higher in wet seasons than in dry seasons, which may be attributed to the seasonal river discharge, rainfall and seawater intrusion. Compared to other regions, some metal levels revealed relatively high contamination. Remarkably, the concentrations of Hg, Cu and Cd were much higher than concentrations found in the past 20?years in the seawater of the Guangxi Beibu Gulf, suggesting that there were increasing anthropogenic inputs of those metals in the aquaculture areas. The assessment of ecological risk index (ERI) indicated that the highest ERI value was found in the Maowei Sea, followed by Pearl Bay, Lianzhou Bay and Hongsha. Hg is the main ecological risk factor, and the heavy-metal contamination in the aquaculture areas must not be ignored.     

鄱阳湖地区多尺度流域水体重金属输送特征及其污染风险评价

鄱阳湖流域的生态健康是维系长江下游区域生态安全的重要保障,而流域内丰富的重金属矿排放的工业废水会对流域生态健康产生巨大威胁。通过对不同级别河流水体中8种重金属（As、Cr、Fe、Mn、Mo、Pb、Se和V）的浓度进行监测,分析和探讨鄱阳湖流域河流重金属污染状况、来源及迁移输出特征,评估通江河流重金属迁移运输对鄱阳湖流域生态健康的影响。研究结果表明：鄱阳湖流域内梅罗综合污染指数平均值为2.67,属于中度污染,丰水期污染情况较为严重,污染指数在4.14-4.74之间,处于重度污染水平,水体主要污染元素是V和Se,V的最大浓度达331.90 μg/L,超过国家水质标准（50 μg/L）6.64倍。重金属浓度和由季节差异造成的水文特征变化是控制流域重金属输出通量的主要原因,而小流域的重金属输出通量对丰枯水期的响应更为敏感。香溪对架竹河、架竹河对赣江以及赣江对鄱阳湖的重金属输出通量分别为7.30 kg/km²、4.06 kg/km²和28.10 kg/km²。不同尺度流域对下游的重金属输出贡献率与径流量相关,丰水期,香溪流域对下游架竹河流域重金属输出的贡献率为1.10%,架竹河对赣江的贡献率为0.02%,而在枯水期,上述贡献率分别为1.61%和0.02%。主成分分析表明鄱阳湖流域水体溶解态重金属的主要污染来源为工业采矿,因此,在预防和治理鄱阳湖流域水体重金属污染问题时,应重点控制工业污染来源。     

黄河尾闾河道及河口区水体与悬浮颗粒物重金属和砷沿程分布及生态风险

基于2016年汛前和汛后获取的黄河尾闾河道与河口区(低盐区)表层和底层水体和悬浮颗粒物样品,研究了水体和悬浮颗粒物中重金属(Cr、Ni、Cu、Zn、Pb、Cd)和As含量的沿程分布特征,并评估了其生态风险。结果表明,汛前尾闾河道表层水体中仅Cd的平均含量高于河口区,而底层水体中As、Cr、Cu、Ni和Pb的平均含量均高于河口区;汛后尾闾河道表层水体中仅Ni的平均含量低于河口区,而底层水体中6种重金属和As的平均含量均高于河口区。汛前尾闾河道表层悬浮颗粒物中As、Cd、Cu、Ni、Pb和Zn的平均含量均低于河口区,而底层悬浮颗粒物中6种重金属和As的平均含量均低于河口区;汛后尾闾河道表层悬浮颗粒物中6种重金属和As的平均含量均高于河口区,而底层悬浮颗粒物中As、Cd、Cr、Cu和Pb的平均含量均高于河口区。汛前和汛后尾闾河道及河口区表层和底层水体中重金属和As污染较轻,其值大多分别低于地表水环境质量Ⅰ类标准和海水水质Ⅰ类标准限值。相对于汛前,汛后尾闾河道及河口区表层或底层悬浮颗粒物中As和6种重金属的毒性单位之和(∑TUs)和平均PEL商数值均降低,说明汛期调水调沙工程的实施可降低汛后悬浮颗粒物中上述元素综合作用所产生潜在生态毒性风险。     

Integration of Ecosystem Services into Ecological Risk Assessment for Implementation in Ecosystem-Based River Management: A Case Study of the Yellow River,China

Ecological risk assessment (ERA) is a scientific tool used to support ecosystem-based management (EBM), but most current ERA methods consider only a few indices of particular species or components. Such limitations restrict the scope of results so that they are insufficient to reflect the integrated risk characterization of an ecosystem, thereby inhibiting the application of ERA in EBM. We incorporate the concept of ecosystem services into ERA and develop an improved ERA framework to create a comprehensive risk map of an ecosystem, accounting for multiple human activities and ecosystem services. Using the Yellow River as a case study, we show how this framework enables the implementation of integrated risk characterization and prioritization of the most important ecological risk issues in the ecosystem-based river management of the Yellow River. This framework can help practitioners facilitate better implementation of ERA within EBM in rivers or any target ecosystem.