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Contamination, risk and quantitative identification of nutrients and potentially toxic elements in the surface sediments of Baiyangdian Lake, North China

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Abstract

Potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in lake sediments are concerning because of their toxic effects on lacustrine ecosystems and human health. Baiyangdian Lake (BYDL), the “pearl of North China”, plays a vital role in maintaining the ecological health of North China. Here, risk assessment and source identification of nutrients and PTEs in sediments were performed. The results showed that the sediments were highly contaminated with total organic carbon (TOC) and total nitrogen (TN), but contamination by total phosphorus (TP) was minor, and the ecological risk associated with Cd was considerable, especially in the northern region. The average noncarcinogenic hazard quotient of PTEs increased in the order of Zn < Hg < Cd < Cu < Ni < Pb < Cr < As. Statistical analyses indicated that Al, Ti, Fe, Co, Cr, Hg, Ni, and rare earth elements were primarily from natural origins; Pb was derived from local tourism development and pollution by fishermen; and TOC, TN, TP, As, Cd, Cu, Zn, and Mn were mainly derived from industrial and agricultural activities. Additionally, the mean contribution rates of industrial wastewater and domestic sewage sources, agricultural sources, and natural sources to BYDL sediment pollution were 59.9%, 17.9%, and 22.2%, respectively. Spatially, industrial and domestic sewage sources contributed more in the northwestern region (average 79.8%) than in the southern region (average 35.5%), while agricultural sources contributed the most in the southwestern region (average 41.3%). These findings will advance our knowledge of the spatial differences, contamination risks and sources of nutrients and PTEs in BYDL and provide a scientific basis to help policy-makers establish a healthy ecological community in BYDL of the Xiong’an New Area.

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Acknowledgements

The study was supported by the S & T Program of Hebei (Grant No. 19224205D), the Fundamental Research Funds for the Universities in Hebei Province (Grant No. QN202216), and funding for the Science and Technology Innovation Team Project of Hebei GEO University (Grant No. KJCXTD-2021-02).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Hebei Province Key Laboratory of Sustained Utilization and Development of Water Resources, Hebei GEO University, Shijiazhuang, 050031, China

    Jingzhong Wang, Hao Wei, Zhao Liang & Shuie Zhan

  2. Hebei Center for Ecological and Environmental Geology Research, Hebei GEO University, Shijiazhuang, 050031, China

    Jingzhong Wang, Hao Wei & Shuie Zhan

  3. School of Earth Science, Institute of Paleontology, Hebei GEO University, Shijiazhuang, 050031, China

    Jingzhong Wang, Shuie Zhan, Hongjuan Jia, Shuai Guo & Peixun Ge

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  1. Jingzhong Wang
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Contributions

W.J.Z. quantitatively calculated the contribution rates of the main sources of pollutants in B.Y.D.L., and was a major contributor in writing the manuscript. W.H. performed statistical methods to determine the different sources, reviewed and edited this manuscript. L.Z. and Z.S.E. tested and analyzed relevant experimental data, and used the pollution and health risk index to appraise the nutrients and PTEs pollution respectively. J.H.J., G.S. and G.P.X. took part in field work and collected samples. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Hao Wei.

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Wang, J., Wei, H., Liang, Z. et al. Contamination, risk and quantitative identification of nutrients and potentially toxic elements in the surface sediments of Baiyangdian Lake, North China. Ecotoxicology 31, 289–298 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10646-021-02517-z

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