Journal of Ecology and Rural Environment ›› 2022, Vol. 38 ›› Issue (12): 1576-1585.doi: 10.19741/j.issn.1673-4831.2022.0110

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Distribution Characteristics of Nutrients and Heavy Metals in Surface Sediments of Tuohu Lake, Anhui, China

GUAN Bei1, CHAO Jian-ying2, WU Chao3, WU Xiao-dong3, LIN Xiao-wen3, LI Jian2   

  1. 1. Nanjing Research Institute of Ecology and Environmental Protection, Nanjing 210013, China;
    2. Nanjing Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Nanjing 210042, China;
    3. College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Hubei Normal University, Huangshi 435002, China
  • Received:2022-02-13 Online:2022-12-25 Published:2023-01-03

Abstract: In order to strengthen the understanding of the lake sediment characteristics in Huaihe River basin, the surface sediments of Tuohu Lake were investigated and the contents of nutrients (TN, TP), OM, and four heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Pb and Cr) were tested in August 2018. The ecological risk of nutrient and heavy metal pollution were assessed by sediment quality assessment guide, organic index assessment and potential ecological risk assessment. The results show that: (1) The average contents of TN, TP and OM are (2 535.00±987.97) mg·kg-1, (672.99±159.09) mg·kg-1 and (47.90±19.89) g·kg-1, respectively. (2) The high values of TN and OM appear in the open area of the lake and the drinking water source, while the highest values of TP appear in the upstream passage of the northern part of the lake (T2). (3) The average contents of Cd, Cu, Pb and Cr were (0.95±0.26) mg·kg-1, (25.16±4.00) mg·kg-1, (23.03±5.60) mg·kg-1 and (86.65±17.76) mg·kg-1, respectively. (4) The highest values of the four heavy metals appeared in the drinking water source area, while the low values appeared in the estuaries of Tuohe River and Tanghe River and the upstream passage in the north of the lake (T2). (5) The surface sediments are polluted by organic pollutants to a certain extent, with organic nitrogen pollution as the main part. The most seriously polluted areas were distributed in the open area of the lake and drinking water source area. (6) The heavy metal pollution in surface sediments has a strong ecological risk, and Cd pollution is the most serious. The serious pollution areas were mainly distributed in the estuary of Malagou and the drinking water source area. Compared with other lakes in China, the contents of nutrients, Cd and Cr in the sediments of Tuohu Lake are at a higher level, while the contents of Cu and Pb are at a moderate level. It is necessary to continue controlling the input of exogenous pollutants and further reduce the internal pollution load.

Key words: Tuohu Lake, surface sediments, nutrients, heavy metal, ecological risk assessment

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