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Phosphorus characteristics, distribution, and relationship with environmental factors in surface sediments of river systems in Eastern China

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Abstract

Phosphorus (P) is an essential nutrient for aquatic organisms. However, too much P discharged into limnetic ecosystems can induce eutrophication. The concentration of P in freshwater ecosystems has escalated in Eastern China due to overuse of fertilizer and excess emission of sewage, which is the result of the development of industry and agriculture in this area. However, little is known about the P characteristics and its environmental factors in river systems. Here, we present the results of P characterization and its relationships with environmental factors in Eastern China by applying SMT and 31P-NMR methods. The results showed that the concentrations of P in surface sediments varied with the river system, and more than 50 % of the samples had P concentrations exceeding 500 mg kg−1. HCl-Pi was the dominant Pi in surface sediments, with the highest percentage (96.5 %) in the Yellow River System. Mono-P was the dominant Po in river sediments, followed by DNA-P. The PCA approach indicated that NaOH-Pi and ortho-P clustered in one group, with a second group including mono-P, diesters-P, and HCl-Pi. Phon-P and pyro-P belonged to different groups. On a regional scale, NaOH-Pi and Po showed a negative relationship with pH in sediments. Continuous eutrophication was induced by the presence of dams, and oxygen-consuming pollutants, such as NH3-N and CODcr, even when external P input was cut in heavily polluted rivers. The research revealed the characteristics of P in different river systems and proposed a conceptual model of P biogeochemical cycles in heavily polluted rivers. Results from this study may provide insight into P characteristics in Eastern China and would set a scientific basis for effective P management in developing countries.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 21507146) and a Special Fund from the State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control (Research Center for Eco-environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences) (15Z01ESPCR). We also thank Xuehong Kong, Shou Yuan, Bozhen Zhang, and Jianlin Bi for collecting the samples.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory on Environmental Aquatic Chemistry, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Science, Chinese Academy of Science, Beijing, 100085, People’s Republic of China

    Wenqiang Zhang, Xin Jin, Xiaolei Zhu, Baoqing Shan & Yu Zhao

  2. University of Chinese Academy of Science, Beijing, 100049, People’s Republic of China

    Xin Jin & Xiaolei Zhu

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  1. Wenqiang Zhang
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  2. Xin Jin
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  3. Xiaolei Zhu
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  4. Baoqing Shan
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  5. Yu Zhao
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Correspondence to Baoqing Shan.

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Responsible editor: Hailong Wang

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Zhang, W., Jin, X., Zhu, X. et al. Phosphorus characteristics, distribution, and relationship with environmental factors in surface sediments of river systems in Eastern China. Environ Sci Pollut Res 23, 19440–19449 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-016-7079-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-016-7079-1

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