Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Distribution, enrichment, and source identification of selected heavy metals in surface sediments of the Siran River, Mansehra, Pakistan

  • Published:
Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

To assess the trace metal pollution in the Siran River, sediments were collected from 12 sites, from the left and right banks of the river in 2013. The concentrations, accumulation, distribution pattern, and pollution status of heavy metals in sediments were investigated using geoaccumulation index (I geo) and enrichment factor (EF). The toxic risk of heavy metals was assessed using interim sediment quality guidelines (ISQGs), portable effect level (PEL), threshold effect level (TEL), and toxic effect threshold (TET). I geo and EF values showed that sediments were loaded with Ni, Cd, Pb, and Co and no obvious variations were found among the left and right banks of the river. The EF and I geo values were found in order of Co > Pb > Ni > As > Cd > Cu > Zn > Fe and Cd > Co > Pb > Ni > As > Fe > Zn > Cu > Mn, respectively. Furthermore, multivariate statistical analysis like inter-metal correlation, cluster analysis (CA), and principal component analysis (PCA) results revealed that geogenic and anthropogenic activities were major sources of sediment contamination in the study area. These results indicated that more attention should be paid to the inner loads of sediment in order to achieve improvements in reservoir water quality after the control of external pollution.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abílio, G. d. S., Cupelo, A. C. G., Rezende, C. E. (2012). Heavy metal distribution in sediments of an offshore exploration area, Santos basin, Brazil. Geochimica Brasiliensis, 20(1).

  • Abrahim, G., & Parker, R. (2008). Assessment of heavy metal enrichment factors and the degree of contamination in marine sediments from Tamaki Estuary, Auckland, New Zealand. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 136(1–3), 227–238.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Adomako, D., Nyarko, B., Dampare, S., et al. (2008). Determination of toxic elements in waters and sediments from River Subin in the Ashanti region of Ghana. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 141(1–3), 165–175.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Arain, M., Kazi, T., Baig, J., et al. (2009). Determination of arsenic levels in lake water, sediment, and foodstuff from selected area of Sindh, Pakistan: estimation of daily dietary intake. Food and Chemical Toxicology, 47(1), 242–248.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Azizullah, A., Khattak, M. N. K., Richter, P., & Häder, D.-P. (2011). Water pollution in Pakistan and its impact on public health—a review. Environment International, 37(2), 479–497.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bhuiyan, M. A. H., Suruvi, N. I., Dampare, S. B., et al. (2011). Investigation of the possible sources of heavy metal contamination in lagoon and canal water in the tannery industrial area in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 175(1–4), 633–649.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Boxall, A., Comber, S., Conrad, A., Howcroft, J., & Zaman, N. (2000). Inputs, monitoring and fate modelling of antifouling biocides in UK estuaries. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 40(11), 898–905.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Camacho, L. M., Gutiérrez, M., Alarcón-Herrera, M. T., de Lourdes Villalba, M., & Deng, S. (2011). Occurrence and treatment of arsenic in groundwater and soil in Northern Mexico and Southwestern USA. Chemosphere, 83(3), 211–225.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Çevik, F., Göksu, M. Z. L., Derici, O. B., & Fındık, Ö. (2009). An assessment of metal pollution in surface sediments of Seyhan dam by using enrichment factor, geoaccumulation index and statistical analyses. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 152(1–4), 309–317.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chabukdhara, M., & Nema, A. K. (2012). Assessment of heavy metal contamination in Hindon River sediments: a chemometric and geochemical approach. Chemosphere, 87(8), 945–953.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • China National Environmental Monitoring Center. (1990). The background values of Chinese soils. Environmental Science Press of China

  • Christoforidis, A., & Stamatis, N. (2009). Heavy metal contamination in street dust and roadside soil along the major national road in Kavala’s region, Greece. Geoderma, 151(3), 257–263.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Christophoridis, C., Dedepsidis, D., & Fytianos, K. (2009). Occurrence and distribution of selected heavy metals in the surface sediments of Thermaikos Gulf, N. Greece. Assessment using pollution indicators. Journal of hazardous materials, 168(2), 1082–1091.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Curtin, D., Campbell, C., & Jalil, A. (1998). Effects of acidity on mineralization: pH-dependence of organic matter mineralization in weakly acidic soils. Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 30(1), 57–64.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Demirak, A., Yilmaz, F., Tuna, A. L., & Ozdemir, N. (2006). Heavy metals in water, sediment and tissues of Leuciscus cephalus from a stream in southwestern Turkey. Chemosphere, 63(9), 1451–1458.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dou, Y., Li, J., Zhao, J., Hu, B., & Yang, S. (2013). Distribution, enrichment and source of heavy metals in surface sediments of the eastern Beibu Bay, South China Sea. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 67(1), 137–145.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Duan, L., Song, J., Xu, Y., Li, X., & Zhang, Y. (2010). The distribution, enrichment and source of potential harmful elements in surface sediments of Bohai Bay, North China. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 183(1), 155–164.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fu, J., Wang, Q., Wang, H., Yu, H., & Zhang, X. (2014). Monitoring of non-destructive sampling strategies to assess the exposure of avian species in Jiangsu Province, China to heavy metals. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 21(4), 2898–2906.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gao, X., & Chen, C.-T. A. (2012). Heavy metal pollution status in surface sediments of the coastal Bohai Bay. Water Research, 46(6), 1901–1911.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Guerra-García, J. M., Ruiz-Tabares, A., Baeza-Rojano, E., et al. (2010). Heavy metals in Caprella (Crustacea: Amphipoda). A new tool for monitoring pollution in coastal areas? Ecological Indicators, 10(3), 734–743.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gutierrez, M., Alarcón-Herrera, M. T., & Camacho, L. M. (2009). Geographical distribution of arsenic in sediments within the Rio Conchos Basin, Mexico. Environmental Geology, 57(4), 929–935.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hou, D., He, J., Lü, C., et al. (2013). Distribution characteristics and potential ecological risk assessment of heavy metals (Cu, Pb, Zn, Cd) in water and sediments from Lake Dalinouer, China. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, 93, 135–144.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Iqbal, J., & Shah, M. H. (2011). Distribution, correlation and risk assessment of selected metals in urban soils from Islamabad, Pakistan. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 192(2), 887–898.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jain, C., Gupta, H., & Chakrapani, G. (2008). Enrichment and fractionation of heavy metals in bed sediments of River Narmada, India. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 141(1–3), 35–47.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kansal, A., Siddiqui, N. A., & Gautam, A. (2013). Assessment of heavy metals and their interrelationships with some physicochemical parameters in eco-efficient rivers of Himalayan region. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 185(3), 2553–2563.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Karbassi, A., Monavari, S., Bidhendi, G. R. N., Nouri, J., & Nematpour, K. (2008). Metal pollution assessment of sediment and water in the Shur River. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 147(1–3), 107–116.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Khan, F., Ali, N., Khan, E., Khattak, N., & Khan, K. (2010). Radon monitoring in water sources of Balakot and Mansehra cities lying on a geological fault line. Radiation Protection Dosimetry, 138(2), 174–179.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li, J., Li, F., Liu, Q., & Zhang, Y. (2014). Trace metal in surface water and groundwater and its transfer in a Yellow River alluvial fan: evidence from isotopes and hydrochemistry. Science of the Total Environment, 472, 979–988.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lin, C., He, M., Zhou, Y., Guo, W., & Yang, Z. (2008). Distribution and contamination assessment of heavy metals in sediment of the Second Songhua River, China. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 137(1–3), 329–342.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liu, G., Tao, L., Liu, X., Hou, J., Wang, A., & Li, R. (2013). Heavy metal speciation and pollution of agricultural soils along Jishui River in non-ferrous metal mine area in Jiangxi Province, China. Journal of Geochemical Exploration, 132, 156–163.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • MacDonald, D. D., Ingersoll, C. G., & Berger, T. (2000). Development and evaluation of consensus-based sediment quality guidelines for freshwater ecosystems. Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, 39(1), 20–31.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Magesh, N., Chandrasekar, N., & Roy, D. V. (2011). Spatial analysis of trace element contamination in sediments of Tamiraparani estuary, southeast coast of India. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 92(4), 618–628.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Magesh, N., Chandrasekar, N., Kumar, S. K., & Glory, M. (2013). Trace element contamination in the estuarine sediments along Tuticorin coast–Gulf of Mannar, southeast coast of India. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 73(1), 355–361.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mashiatullah, A., Chaudhary, M. Z., Ahmad, N., Javed, T., & Ghaffar, A. (2013). Metal pollution and ecological risk assessment in marine sediments of Karachi coast, Pakistan. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 185(2), 1555–1565.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Muller, G. (1981). The heavy metal pollution of the sediments of Neckars and its tributary: a stocktaking. Chemiker-Zeitung, 105, 157–164.

    Google Scholar 

  • Müller, P. J., & Suess, E. (1979). Productivity, sedimentation rate, and sedimentary organic matter in the oceans—I. Organic carbon preservation. Deep Sea Research Part A Oceanographic Research Papers, 26(12), 1347–1362.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nazeer, S., Hashmi, M. Z., & Malik, R. N. (2014). Heavy metals distribution, risk assessment and water quality characterization by water quality index of the River Soan, Pakistan. Ecological Indicators, 43, 262–270.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ryu, B.-G., Park, G.-Y., Yang, J.-W., & Baek, K. (2011). Electrolyte conditioning for electrokinetic remediation of As, Cu, and Pb-contaminated soil. Separation and Purification Technology, 79(2), 170–176.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Salati, S., & Moore, F. (2010). Assessment of heavy metal concentration in the Khoshk River water and sediment, Shiraz, Southwest Iran. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 164(1–4), 677–689.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Saleem, M., Iqbal, J., & Shah, M. H. (2013). Study of seasonal variations and risk assessment of selected metals in sediments from Mangla Lake, Pakistan. Journal of Geochemical Exploration, 125, 144–152.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sayadi, M., Sayyed, M., & Kumar, S. (2010). Short-term accumulative signatures of heavy metals in river bed sediments in the industrial area, Tehran, Iran. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 162(1–4), 465–473.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sekabira, K., Origa, H. O., Basamba, T., Mutumba, G., & Kakudidi, E. (2010). Assessment of heavy metal pollution in the urban stream sediments and its tributaries. International Journal of Environmental Science & Technology, 7(3), 435–446.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Simeonov, V. (2003). Environmetric strategies to classify, interpret and model risk assessment and quality of environmental systems. Clean Technologies and Environmental Policy, 5(3–4), 190–199.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Singh, K. P., Mohan, D., Singh, V. K., & Malik, A. (2005a). Studies on distribution and fractionation of heavy metals in Gomti River sediments—a tributary of the Ganges, India. Journal of Hydrology, 312(1), 14–27.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Singh, V. K., Singh, K. P., & Mohan, D. (2005b). Status of heavy metals in water and bed sediments of River Gomti—a tributary of the Ganga River, India. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 105(1–3), 43–67.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Suthar, S., Nema, A. K., Chabukdhara, M., & Gupta, S. K. (2009). Assessment of metals in water and sediments of Hindon River, India: impact of industrial and urban discharges. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 171(1), 1088–1095.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tang, W., Zhao, Y., Wang, C., Shan, B., & Cui, J. (2013). Heavy metal contamination of overlying waters and bed sediments of Haihe Basin in China. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, 98, 317–323.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tao, Y., Yuan, Z., Xiaona, H., & Wei, M. (2012). Distribution and bioaccumulation of heavy metals in aquatic organisms of different trophic levels and potential health risk assessment from Taihu Lake, China. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, 81, 55–64.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Taylor, S. R., & McLennan, S. M. (1995). The geochemical evolution of the continental crust. Reviews of Geophysics, 33(2), 241–265.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Turekian, K. K., & Wedepohl, K. H. (1961). Distribution of the elements in some major units of the Earth’s crust. Geological Society of America Bulletin, 72(2), 175–192.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • USEPA. (2007). Microwave assisted acid digestion of sediments, sludges, soils, and oils. Method 3051A, Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response, US Government Printing Office, Washington, DC, USA.

  • USEPA. (2009). National primary drinking water regulations. United States Environmental Protection Agency

  • Varol, M., & Şen, B. (2012). Assessment of nutrient and heavy metal contamination in surface water and sediments of the upper Tigris River, Turkey. Catena, 92, 1–10.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Vignati, D. A., Burdino, E., Congiu, A. M., et al. (2008). Quality evaluation of sediments from 24 tributaries of the Po River, Italy. Water, Air, and Soil Pollution, 190(1–4), 129–141.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang, S., & Mulligan, C. N. (2006). Occurrence of arsenic contamination in Canada: sources, behavior and distribution. Science of the Total Environment, 366(2), 701–721.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang, S., Lin, C., & Cao, X. (2011). Heavy metals content and distribution in the surface sediments of the Guangzhou section of the Pearl River, Southern China. Environmental Earth Sciences, 64(6), 1593–1605.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Waseem, M., Mohammad, I., Khan, S., Haider, S., & Hussain, S. K. (2005). Tourism and solid waste problem in Ayubia National Park, Pakistan (a case study, 2003–2004). Peshawar: WWF–P Nathiagali office.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wenning, R. J., Batley, G. E., Ingersoll, C. G., Moore, D. W. (2002). Use of sediment quality guidelines and related tools for the assessment of contaminated sediments, Fairmont, Montana, USA.

  • Wu, G., Shang, J., Pan, L., & Wang, Z. (2014). Heavy metals in surface sediments from nine estuaries along the coast of Bohai Bay, Northern China. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 82(1), 194–200.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yuan, H., Liu, E., Shen, J., Zhou, H., Geng, Q., & An, S. (2014). Characteristics and origins of heavy metals in sediments from Ximen Co Lake during summer monsoon season, a deep lake on the eastern Tibetan Plateau. Journal of Geochemical Exploration, 136, 76–83.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zaharescu, D. G., Hooda, P. S., Soler, A. P., Fernandez, J., & Burghelea, C. I. (2009). Heavy metals and their source in the catchment of the high altitude Lake Respomuso, Central Pyrenees. Science of the Total Environment, 407(11), 3546–3553.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zahra, A., Hashmi, M. Z., Malik, R. N., & Ahmed, Z. (2014). Enrichment and geo-accumulation of heavy metals and risk assessment of sediments of the Kurang Nallah—feeding tributary of the Rawal Lake reservoir, Pakistan. Science of the Total Environment, 470, 925–933.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang, H., & Shan, B. (2008). Historical records of heavy metal accumulation in sediments and the relationship with agricultural intensification in the Yangtze–Huaihe region, China. Science of the Total Environment, 399(1), 113–120.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zheng, N., Wang, Q., Liang, Z., & Zheng, D. (2008). Characterization of heavy metal concentrations in the sediments of three freshwater rivers in Huludao City, Northeast China. Environmental Pollution, 154(1), 135–142.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhou, F., Guo, H., & Liu, L. (2007). Quantitative identification and source apportionment of anthropogenic heavy metals in marine sediment of Hong Kong. Environmental Geology, 53(2), 295–305.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Hydro Geochemistry Laboratory, Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, 45320, Pakistan

    Ahmed Raza, Abida Farooqi, Asif Javed & Waqar Ali

  2. Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Bahria University, Islamabad, Pakistan

    Asif Javed

Authors
  1. Ahmed Raza
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Abida Farooqi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Asif Javed
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Waqar Ali
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Abida Farooqi.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Raza, A., Farooqi, A., Javed, A. et al. Distribution, enrichment, and source identification of selected heavy metals in surface sediments of the Siran River, Mansehra, Pakistan. Environ Monit Assess 188, 572 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-016-5586-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-016-5586-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation