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Distribution, source, and ecological risk assessment of potentially toxic elements in surface sediments from Qingfeng River, Hunan, China

  • Sediments, Sec 1 • Sediment Quality and Impact Assessment • Research Article
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Abstract

Purpose

The spatial distribution and potential ecological risks of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) such as Sb, As, Cu, Zn, Pb, and Cr in sediment samples from the Qingfeng River were evaluated. This study aims to reveal the current status of sediment quality in the Qingfeng River and provide a scientific basis for its remediation and further comprehensive management.

Materials and methods

Descriptive analysis and inverse distance weighted method were used to investigate the concentration and spatial distribution of PTEs in sediments. The geoaccumulation index evaluation (Igeo), Nemerow index (NI), and potential ecological risk index (RI) were used to evaluate the pollution degree of PTEs. Multivariate statistical techniques, such as cluster analysis, correlation analysis, and principal component analysis, were used to identify the sources of PTEs.

Results and discussion

The results showed that the river sediments were mainly polluted by Sb (concentration range: 69–11,900 mg kg−1) and As (concentration range: 8–607 mg kg−1) and that the average concentrations were 4.3 and 553 times those of the background values, respectively. Based on the spatial distribution and pollution risks of PTEs, the study area was divided into three river sections, and the pollution risks were decreased in the order of upstream > midstream > downstream. The geoaccumulation index evaluation showed that the hierarchy of PTE pollutant concentration was as follows: Sb > As > Cu > Zn > Cr > Pb. The Nemerow indexes and potential ecological risk indexes all indicated that a very high potential risk exhibited in the study area, while the potential ecological risk of Sb was significantly higher than that of the other PTEs. Correlation analysis and principal component analysis indicated that Pb, As, and Sb were mainly derived from industrial activities, and Cu, Cr, and Zn were mainly derived from agricultural activities.

Conclusions

The results showed that a very high potential risk existed in the study area. Sb was the main pollution factor of the surface sediments of the Qingfeng River and posed a very high potential ecological risk, while Cu, Cr, Zn, and Pb had low ecological risks. The results also determined that the sources of PTEs in the sediments could be mainly attributed to human activities. Substantial measures should be taken to control and resolve the PTE pollution in the Qingfeng River at the source.

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Data availability

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon request.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Hao Xu, Jian Cao, Xianzheng Xu, Junming Gong, and other Central South University of Forestry and Technology students for helping with sample collection.

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Funding

This study received financial support from the National Key Research and Development Program of China (2018YFC1800400) and Hunan Provincial Key Research Plan Program (2018SK2041).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Collage of Environmental Science and Engineering, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha, 410004, China

    Zhuo Chen, Shunhong Huang, Bairui Cheng, Mengfei Li & Hui Huang

  2. Hunan Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Changsha, 410004, China

    Liang Chen

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  1. Zhuo Chen
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  2. Shunhong Huang
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  3. Liang Chen
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  4. Bairui Cheng
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Contributions

Conceptualization, methodology, formal analysis, investigation, data curation, writing - original draft, and writing - review & editing: Zhuo Chen; conceptualization, methodology, writing - review & editing, supervision, and funding acquisition: Shunhong Huang; methodology, writing - review & editing, and project administration: Liang Chen; data curation, visualization, and software: Bairui Cheng; software, validation, and validation: Mengfei Li. sampling and samples preparation: Hui Huang.

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Correspondence to Shunhong Huang or Liang Chen.

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Chen, Z., Huang, S., Chen, L. et al. Distribution, source, and ecological risk assessment of potentially toxic elements in surface sediments from Qingfeng River, Hunan, China. J Soils Sediments 21, 2686–2698 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-021-02962-7

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