Issue 3, 2011

Distribution and ecotoxicological significance of trace element contamination in a ∼150 yr record of sediments in Lake Chaohu, Eastern China

Abstract

This paper presents the concentrations, vertical profiles and possible sources of selected major and trace elements in a sediment core covering ∼150 years of sedimentation in Lake Chaohu, eastern China. Element concentrations were measured by portable X-ray Fluorescence Spectroscopy (XRF) and were used to evaluate possible environmental consequences of the recent industrialization in China. Statistical analyses identify four groups: (1) organic carbon (OC), total nitrogen (TN), Pb, Zn, and As associated with the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides; (2) Mn, Cr, Ni and Cu from industrial and mining activities; (3) Fe, Rb, K, Co, Ti and Ca influenced by post-depositional processes and land exploitation; and (4) Zr and Sr from the soil. The vertical profiles of elements placed in the first two groups show distinct increases in concentrations above depths of 20 cm (∼1978), coincident with the timing of industrialization in China, and the anthropogenic-derived fluxes are higher than the lithogenic-derived fluxes over the last three decades. With the exception of Zr and Sr, association of the measured metals with organic carbon and nitrogen suggests that organic matter may act as a carrier phase. The geoaccumulation index (Igeo) reveals increased contamination from elements in the first two groups in recent years. Element concentrations, compared with the Effects Range-Low (ERL) and Effects Range-Median (ERM) levels set by NOAA, suggest that adverse biological effects from Ni contamination are very likely.

Graphical abstract: Distribution and ecotoxicological significance of trace element contamination in a ∼150 yr record of sediments in Lake Chaohu, Eastern China

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
08 Oct 2010
Accepted
12 Jan 2011
First published
14 Feb 2011

J. Environ. Monit., 2011,13, 743-752

Distribution and ecotoxicological significance of trace element contamination in a ∼150 yr record of sediments in Lake Chaohu, Eastern China

Y. M. Han, J. J. Cao, T. C. Kenna, B. Yan, Z. D. Jin, F. Wu and Z. S. An, J. Environ. Monit., 2011, 13, 743 DOI: 10.1039/C0EM00551G

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