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Major and trace elements in the surface water of Tonle Sap Lake, Mekong River, and other tributary rivers in Cambodia

Environmental Monitoring and Assessment volume 192, Article number: 467 (2020) Cite this article

Abstract

To evaluate the seasonal water circulation of Tonle Sap Lake and its tributary rivers in Cambodia, the spatial distribution patterns of major and trace elements in surface water were investigated. Based on the similarity of the dissolved elemental concentrations, the water samples were mainly divided into the three groups: samples with relatively high percentages of Ca, Mo, and Sb (Subcluster B1); samples with high Si, Al, and Fe (B2); and samples with high Na, K, and Mg (B3). During the rainy season, the elemental composition of lake water (B1) appeared to be greatly influenced by the intrusion of water from the Mekong River (B1) through the Tonle Sap River (B1). During the dry season, the type of lake water shifted to B3, suggesting that the lake water stored during the rainy season was replaced by inflow from other tributaries and groundwater in its vicinity. Thus, the seasonal changes in the elemental composition of the lake water were largely controlled by surface water and groundwater circulation. The dissolved As concentration was higher in the lake water and during the dry season than that in the river water and during the rainy season, indicating the discharge of As from the lake’s bottom sediment during the dry season. Although the redox cycling of Fe and Mn appeared to be less important due to the shallow water depth in the lake, there are potential risks of As poisoning induced by the formation of an anoxic water mass and increment in the concentration of phosphorus if eutrophication continues to progress.

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful for the support of many people during the field surveys and sample analyses, especially, the students of Tokai University, Japan, the officers of Fisheries of Administration Cantonment and Headquarter of Fisheries Administration, and the stakeholders such as the local resident people, fishermen, and fish farmers in Cambodia.

Funding

This study was financially supported by the Joint Research Grant for the Environmental Isotope Study of Research Institute for Humanity and Nature, the Research and Study Program of Tokai University Educational System General Research Organization, and the Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (No. 24510357, 24510018, 24780189, 16H02524) from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS).

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Affiliations

  1. School of Marine Science and Technology, Tokai University, 3-20-1 Orido, Shimizu-ku, Shizuoka, 424-8610, Japan

    Takashi Yoshikawa

  2. Research Institute for Humanity and Nature, 457-4 Motoyama, Kamigamo, Kita-ku, Kyoto, 603-8047, Japan

    Akira P. Takagi, Satoshi Ishikawa, Takanori Nakano & Ki-Cheol Shin

  3. Graduate School of Kuroshio Science, Kochi University, 200 Monobe Otsu, Nankoku, Kochi, 783-8502, Japan

    Mina Hori

  4. Fisheries administration of Ministry of Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries, 186, Norodom Blvd, Sangkat, Tonle Bassac, Khan Chamcarmon, Phnom Penh, P.O box 582, Cambodia

    Hort Sitha, Eng Cheasan & Srun Limsong

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  1. Takashi Yoshikawa
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  2. Akira P. Takagi
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  3. Satoshi Ishikawa
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  4. Mina Hori
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  5. Takanori Nakano
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  6. Ki-Cheol Shin
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  7. Hort Sitha
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  8. Eng Cheasan
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  9. Srun Limsong
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Correspondence to Takashi Yoshikawa.

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Yoshikawa, T., Takagi, A.P., Ishikawa, S. et al. Major and trace elements in the surface water of Tonle Sap Lake, Mekong River, and other tributary rivers in Cambodia. Environ Monit Assess 192, 467 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-020-08292-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-020-08292-4

Keywords

  • Major and trace elements
  • Surface water circulation
  • Groundwater discharge
  • Tonle Sap Lake
  • Mekong River
  • Lake water quality