Journal of Ecology and Rural Environment ›› 2018, Vol. 34 ›› Issue (12): 1096-1104.doi: 10.11934/j.issn.1673-4831.2018.12.006

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Ecological Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals in Surface Sediments in Haiyan County, Zhejiang Province

KANG Zhan-jun, LU Xin-zhe, LIN Nan, GU An-qing   

  1. Zhejiang Institute of Geological Survey, Hangzhou 311203, China
  • Received:2017-10-30 Online:2018-12-25 Published:2018-12-25

Abstract:

The contents and the speciation distribution of heavy metals (As, Hg, Cu, Pb, Zn, Cr, Ni and Cd) in surface sediments of Haiyan County, Zhejiang Province were analyzed for the study. The assessment of ecological risk was conducted by using geo-accumulation index (Igeo), potential ecological risk index (IR), sediment quality guidelines (SQC), mERM-Q values and speciation distribution method. The results show that most of the surface sediment samples were contaminated by As、Cd、Cr、Cu、Ni、Pb and Zn in different degrees, and Zn was the most pervasive one.The geo-accumulation index indicated that heavy metal contamination in the most of aquatic sediment ranged from slight to severe, 16 and 10 sampling sites respectively showed over light pollution of Zn and Cd.The potential ecological risks of the studied single heavy metal were presented in the following decreasing order:Cd > Hg > As > Cu > Pb > Ni > Zn > Cr. Cd is the main ecological risk element in the study area. The ecology risks was moderate in HN6 (IR=263), HN11 (IR=193) and HN20 (IR=269) sampling sites according to the potential ecological risk index. The SQC displayed different levels of heavy metal contamination in sediments at different sampling sites and different effects on aquatic organisms. The mERM-Q value also indicated different degrees of ecology risks. Since in the study area Cr mainly exists in the non-transferable state, while the other heavy metals are mainly extractable, urgent attention is needed in order to avoid the secondary pollution of heavy metals when environment condition changes.

Key words: sediment, heavy metal, ecological risk, speciation distribution

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