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Assessment of the accumulation level and ecological risk of heavy metals in surface sediments of Bong Mieu River, Quang Nam Province, Vietnam

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Abstract

This study assessed the accumulation levels and ecological risks associated with seven heavy metals (As, Pb, Cd, Hg, Cu, Cr, Zn) in the surface sediments of the Bong Mieu River in Quang Nam Province, Vietnam. The sampling encompassed 10 locations (S1–S10), considering areas both impacted and less impacted by gold mining activities. The findings revealed elevated levels of heavy metal pollution and associated ecological risks attributable to gold mining. Heavy metal content varied within specific ranges: As (70.6–341.2 mg/kg), Pb (216.3–504.1 mg/kg), Hg (0.138–0.252 mg/kg), Cd (0.91–1.51mg/kg), Cu (18.3–45.5 mg/kg), Cr (10.5–19.1 mg/kg), and Zn (49.3–84.1 mg/kg). Among these elements, Hg, Cu, Cr, Zn, and Cd adhered to the acceptable limits of VNTR 43:2017/MONRE (VNTR 43:2017/MONRE: National Technical Regulation/Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of Vietnam). However, As and Pb content at all locations exceeded these limits significantly, with As being 4.1–20 times higher and Pb 2.3–5.5 times higher. The pollution of Pb and As was attributed to waste discharge from gold mining activities, which carry substantial amounts of these metals in various forms. The Igeo indicated heavy pollution of As and Pb in the sediments. Ecological risk factors were ranked as follows: \({E}_{r}^{i}\) (As) > \({E}_{r}^{i}\) (Pb) > \({E}_{r}^{i}\) (Hg) > \({E}_{r}^{i}\) (Cd) > \({E}_{r}^{i}\) (Cu) > \({E}_{r}^{i}\) (Cr) > \({E}_{r}^{i}\) (Zn). The potential ecological risk (RI) due to combined heavy metal impact varied across locations, with S2 > S8 > S9 > S6 > S7 > S10 > S1 > S3 > S4 > S5, exhibiting low to moderate risk (RI values ranging from 73.4 to 252.8). The study area demonstrated high contamination levels for As and Pb, coupled with low to moderate potential ecological risks.

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Funding

This study was funded for Le Van Hao by the Master, PhD Scholarship Programme of Vingroup Innovation Fund (VINIF), code VINIF.2022.ThS.027.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The University of Danang-University of Science and Technology, 54 Nguyen Luong Bang, Lien Chieu Dist., Danang, 550000, Vietnam

    Phuoc-Cuong Le & Van Hao Le

  2. The University of Danang-University of Science and Education, 550000, Danang, Vietnam

    Tho Luong Van

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  1. Phuoc-Cuong Le
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  2. Van Hao Le
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Contributions

Phuoc-Cuong Le: project administration, resources, supervision, conceptualization, data curation, investigation, methodology, and writing (original draft, review, and editing). Le Van Hao: data curation, investigation, methodology, software, validation, and writing (original draft). B. Van: formal analysis, investigation, conceptualization, and supervision.

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Correspondence to Phuoc-Cuong Le or Tho Luong Van.

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Le, PC., Le, V.H. & Luong Van, T. Assessment of the accumulation level and ecological risk of heavy metals in surface sediments of Bong Mieu River, Quang Nam Province, Vietnam. Environ Monit Assess 196, 395 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-024-12531-3

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