Abstract
Purpose
The aims of this study were to investigate the status, spatial distribution, ecological risk, sources, and temporal accumulation of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in stream sediments of the Hetaoping large lead–zinc polymetallic mine concentration area.
Methods
In this study, 35 new collected (2017) and 12 achieved (the 1980s) stream sediments from the Hetaoping and Heiyanao stream drainages in the mine area were used. The geo-accumulation (Igeo), potential ecological risk (\({E}_{r}^{i}\) and PERI), sediment quality guidelines (SQGs), and mean probable effect concentration quotient (PECQ) were used to evaluate the status and ecological risk of PTEs. Correlation analysis, hierarchical clustering analysis, and enrichment factors (EF) were used to identify the potential source of PTEs. Kruskal–Wallis tests were analyzed to compare the significant difference of PTMs in different drainages and sampling periods.
Results and discussion
Results showed that As, Cu, Hg, Pb, and Zn are obviously above their regional background values. As, Cd, Cu, Hg, Pb, and Zn are found at moderately contaminated to extremely contaminated levels near the Hetaoping and Maozhupeng deposits, as well as in the Heiyanao drainage. The ecological risk of As, Cd, Hg, and Pb is predominantly near the mining center. Cr and Ni are from natural sources; As, Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn come from mining activities near the mining center, as well as natural sources outside the mining center, while Hg originates from other uncertain anthropogenic sources.
Conclusions
Mining activities in the past 40 years have significantly increased As, Cd, Cu, Hg, Pb, and Zn concentrations and ecological risks in the surrounding stream sediments in the study area.
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Data availability
Data will be made available on reasonable request.
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The authors would like to express our sincere thanks to the editors and reviewers for their critical and constructive comments and suggestions.
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This work was supported by the Institute of Geophysical and Geochemical Exploration, the Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences (AS2022J09), the China Geological Survey (DD20160313, DD20190522, DD20190518, DD20190527, DD20221770, and DD20221770-04), and the Ministry of Finance of China (121201108000168530).
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All authors contributed to the study conception and design. Li Zhang: conceptualization, formal Analysis, investigation, methodology, software, and writing—original draft. Zheng Yang: software. Qiaolin Wang: software. Fei Guo: software. Min Peng: project administration. Yuntao Song: investigation. Wei Han: investigation. Fei Liu: project administration. Kuo Li: methodology. Hangxin Cheng: project administration and conceptualization.
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Zhang, L., Yang, Z., Wang, Q. et al. Temporal and spatial accumulation of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in stream sediments from a large lead–zinc mine concentration area of Baoshan, Southwest China. J Soils Sediments 22, 2290–2308 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-022-03230-y
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-022-03230-y