Nature Environment and Pollution Technology

Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Subscription Access

Concentration and Chemical Speciation of Metals in Sediments from Upstream of the Pearl River, China


Affiliations
1 Southwest Forestry University, Kunming 6500224, China
2 Southwest Forestry University, Kunming 650224, China
3 Kunming University of Science & Technology, Kunming 650500, China
 

The concentration and chemical speciation of typical metals (Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb, Cr, As, Mn, Fe) in water and sediment were investigated from the upstream of the Pearl River. The investigated eight metals showed the total As, Cu and Pb concentrations of most sample sites in the sediment exceeded the threshold effect concentration of sediment quality guidelines, but their potential ecological risk index values were low, which posed a low risk to the local ecosystem. The speciation of Pb and Zn showed that they predominate in the reducible fractions; Cu and As were mainly held in residual fraction and reducible fraction. The order of bioavailability for the metals was Mn > Zn > Pb > As > Cu > Fe > Cr.

Keywords

Heavy Metals, Sediments, Pearl River, Sediment Quality Standard.
User
Notifications
Font Size


  • Boughriet, A., Proix, N., Billon, G., Recourt, P. and Ouddane, B. 2007. Environmental impacts of heavy metal discharges from a smelter in Deule-canal sediments (Northern France): concentration levels and chemical fractionation. Water Air and Soil Pollution, 180: 83-95.

  • Burton, Jr G.A. 2002. Sediment quality criteria in use around the world. Limnology, 3: 65-76.

  • Chen, B., Liang, X., Xu, W., Huang, X. and Li, X. 2012. The changes in trace metal contamination over the last decade in surface sediments of the Pearl River Estuary, South China. Science of the Ttotal Environment, 439: 141-149.

  • Chen, J., Hong, S., Wang, L. and Wang, F. 2000. Geo-chemical parameters of river particulate in eastern China. Acta Geographica Sinica, 417427.

  • Cheung, K.C., Poon, B.H.T., Lan, C.Y. and Wong, M.H. 2003. Assessment of metal and nutrient concentrations in river water and sediment collected from the cities in the Pearl River Delta, South China. Chemosphere, 52: 1431-1440.

  • China Environment Monitoring General Station 1990. The background value of elements in soils in China. China Environmental Science Press, Beijing.

  • Dhanakumar, S. and Mohanraj, R. 2013. Fractionation of iron in river-bed sediments: implications for the assessment of environmental integrity of the Cauvery Delta Region, India. In: On a Sustainable Future of the Earth’s Natural Resources, Springer, pp. 123-137.

  • Gundersen, P. and Steinnes, E. 2003. Influence of pH and TOC concentration on Cu, Zn, Cd, and Al speciation in rivers. Water Research, 37: 307-318.

  • Guven, D.E. and Akinci, G. 2008. Heavy metals partitioning in the sediments of Izmir Inner Bay. Journal of Environmental Sciences, 20: 413-418.

  • Hakanson, L. 1980. An ecological risk index for aquatic pollution control. a sedimentological approach. Water Research, 14: 975-1001.

  • Huang, L., Pu, X., Pan, J.F. and Wang, B. 2013. Heavy metal pollution status in surface sediments of Swan Lake lagoon and Rongcheng Bay in the northern Yellow Sea. Chemosphere, 93: 1957-1964.

  • Huang, X., Liang, K. and Liu, X. 2006. The distribution and assessment of heavy metals in surficial sediments in the Pearl River Estuary. Transactions of Oceanology and Limnology, 27-36.

  • Ianni, C., Magi, E., Soggia, F., Rivaro, P. and Frache, R. 2010. Trace metal speciation in coastal and off-shore sediments from Ross Sea (Antarctica). Microchemical Journal, 96: 203-212.

  • Ip, CCM, Li, X.D, Zhang, G., Wai, O.W.H. and Li, Y.S. 2007. Trace metal distribution in sediments of the Pearl River Estuary and the surrounding coastal area, South China. Environmental Pollution, 147: 311-323.

  • Jiang, W., Lai, Z., Peng, S., Wei, Ti., Gao, Y. and Yang, W. 2010. Heavy metals content in surface sediment in the Pearl River Estuary and potential ecological risk assessment. Freshwater Fisheries, 40: 37-42.

  • Jones, G.B. 1974. Molybdenum in a nearshore and estuarine environment, North Wales. Estuarine and Coastal Marine Science, 2: 185-189.

  • Liu, B., Hu, K., Jiang, Z., Yang, J., Luo, X. and Liu, A. 2011. Distribution and enrichment of heavy metals in a sediment core from the Pearl River Estuary. Environmental Earth Sciences, 62: 265-275.

  • Liu, F., Yan, W., Wang, W., Gu, S. and Chen, Z. 2002. Pollution of heavy metals in the Pearl River Estuary and its assessment of potential ecological risk. Marine Environmental Science, 21: 34-38.

  • Liu, H., Yin, C. and Tang, Y. 2010. Distribution and speciation of heavy metals in sediments at a littoral zone of Meiliang Bay of Taihu Lake. China Environmental Science, 30: 389-394.

  • Ma, L.Q. and Rao, G.N. 1997. Effects of phosphate rock on sequential chemical extraction of lead in contaminated soils. Journal of Environmental Quality, 26: 788-794.

  • Mouvet, C. and Bourg, A. 1983. Speciation (including adsorbed species) of copper, lead, nickel and zinc in the Meuse River: observed results compared to values calculated with a chemical equilibrium computer program. Water Research, 17: 641-649.

  • Niu, H., Wu, Q. and Chen, X. 2007. Investigation and evaluation heavy metal pollution in the surface sediments in Guangzhou section of the Pearl River. The Administration and Technique of Environmental Monitoring, 19: 23-25.

  • Niu, H., Deng, W., Wu, Q. and Chen, X. 2009. Potential toxic risk of heavy metals from sediment of the Pearl River in South China. Journal of Environmental Sciences, 21: 1053-1058.

  • Pueyo, M., Sastre, J., Hernandez, E., Vidal, M., Lopez-Sanchez, J. and Rauret, G. 2003. Prediction of trace element mobility in contaminated soils by sequential extraction. Journal of Environmental Quality, 32: 2054-2066.

  • Qi, S., Leipe, T., Rueckert, P., Di, Z. and Harff, J. 2010. Geochemical sources, deposition and enrichment of heavy metals in short sediment cores from the Pearl River Estuary, Southern China. Journal of Marine Systems 82: S28-S42.

  • Rauret, G., Lopez-Sanchez, J., Sahuquillo, A., Rubio, R., Davidson, C., Ure, A. and Quevauviller, P. 1999. Improvement of the BCR three step sequential extraction procedure prior to the certification of new sediment and soil reference materials. J. Environ. Monit., 1: 57-61.

  • Rubio, B., Nombela, M.A. and Vilas, F. 2000. Geochemistry of major and trace elements in sediments of the Ria de Vigo (NW Spain): an assessment of metal pollution. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 40: 968-980.

  • Stevenson, F.J. 1994. Humus Chemistry: Genesis, Composition, Reactions. John Wiley & Sons.

  • Tukura, B., Kagbu, J. and Gimba, C. 2007. Effects of pH and total organic carbon (TOC) on the distribution of trace metals in Kubanni dam sediments, Zaria, Nigeria. Science World Journal, 2: 1-6.

  • Ure, A., Quevauviller, P., Muntau, H. and Griepink, B. 1993. Speciation of heavy metals in soils and sediments. An account of the improvement and harmonization of extraction techniques undertaken under the auspices of the BCR of the commission of the European communities. International Journal of Environmental Analytical Chemistry, 51: 135151.

  • Veeh, H.H. 1968. Deposition of uranium from the ocean. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 3: 145-150.

  • Venugopal, T., Giridharan, L. and Jayaprakash, M. 2009. Characterization and risk assessment studies of bed sediments of river Adyar-An application of speciation study. Int. J. Environ. Res., 3: 581-598.

  • Wang, F. and Chen, J. 2000. Relation of sediment characteristics to trace metal concentrations: a statistical study. Water Research, 34: 694-698.

  • Wang, S., Cao, X., Lin, C. and Chen, X. 2010. Arsenic content and fractionation in the surface sediments of the Guangzhou section of the Pearl River in Southern China. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 183: 264-270.

  • Whitehouse, R. 2000. Dynamics of Estuarine Muds: A Manual for Practical Applications. Thomas Telford.

  • Yang, S., Zhou, D., Yu, H., Wei, R. and Pan, B. 2013. Distribution and speciation of metals (Cu, Zn, Cd, and Pb) in agricultural and non-agricultural soils near a stream upriver from the Pearl River, China. Environmental Pollution, 177: 64-70.

  • Yang, W., Lai, Z. and Wei, T. 2009. Pollution and ecological hazard evaluation of sediment heavy metals in Pearl River Estuary. Journal of Zhejiang Ocean University (Natural Science), 28: 188-191.

  • Yu, X., Yan, Y. and Wang, W.X. 2010. The distribution and speciation of trace metals in surface sediments from the Pearl River Estuary and the Daya Bay, Southern China. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 60: 1364-1371.

  • Zhang, J., Wen Huang, W. and Chong, Shi M. 1990. Huanghe (Yellow River) and its estuary: sediment origin, transport and deposition. Journal of Hydrology, 120: 203-223.


Abstract Views: 193

PDF Views: 0




  • Concentration and Chemical Speciation of Metals in Sediments from Upstream of the Pearl River, China

Abstract Views: 193  |  PDF Views: 0

Authors

Silin Yang
Southwest Forestry University, Kunming 6500224, China
Ning Zhao
Southwest Forestry University, Kunming 650224, China
Dawei Wang
Southwest Forestry University, Kunming 650224, China
Liqiong Tang
Southwest Forestry University, Kunming 6500224, China
Rong Wei
Kunming University of Science & Technology, Kunming 650500, China
Bin Yang
Southwest Forestry University, Kunming 6500224, China

Abstract


The concentration and chemical speciation of typical metals (Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb, Cr, As, Mn, Fe) in water and sediment were investigated from the upstream of the Pearl River. The investigated eight metals showed the total As, Cu and Pb concentrations of most sample sites in the sediment exceeded the threshold effect concentration of sediment quality guidelines, but their potential ecological risk index values were low, which posed a low risk to the local ecosystem. The speciation of Pb and Zn showed that they predominate in the reducible fractions; Cu and As were mainly held in residual fraction and reducible fraction. The order of bioavailability for the metals was Mn > Zn > Pb > As > Cu > Fe > Cr.

Keywords


Heavy Metals, Sediments, Pearl River, Sediment Quality Standard.

References