Abstract
Heavy metal concentrations in surface water and sediments collected from Honghu Lake in Hubei Province, China were analyzed, and ecological risks were evaluated according to the sediment quality guidelines. The results showed that the average concentrations of heavy metals in surface water were ranked as: As>Zn> Cu>Cr>Pb>Ni>Cd>Hg. In comparison with results reported in other rivers and the background values, The Honghu Lake was polluted by As, Cr, Pb, Cu and Ni. Most of metals might be mainly from fertilizers, industrial effluent and domestic wastewater around the lake. Heavy metals concentrations were relatively higher in the inlet area than in other areas. Negative correlations were observed between most heavy metals and pH, while a significant positive correlation was present between Zn, Cd and Pb. In the sediment core, Cu, Zn, Cr and Ni showed a decreasing trend while Cd present an increasing trend. The decrease of As, Cu, Zn, Cr and Ni in the 1990s might due to the flood event in 1998. The analysis of ecological risk assessment based on sediment quality guidelines suggested that heavy metals in most sediments from the Honghu Lake had moderate toxicity, with Cr being the highest priority pollutant.
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Dr. Shihua Qi is a professor in the School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, China. He obtained his B.S. degree in Geochemistry, Wuhan College of Geology, received his M.S. degree in Geochemistry and Ph.D. in Paleontology and Stratigraphy from China University of Geosciences. His current research focuses on fate and behaviour of environmental organic pollutants and persistent organic pollutants, environmental geochemistry and remote sensing applications to environment. He holds three patents and has published more than 150 refereed journal articles and conference papers.
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Hu, Y., Qi, S., Wu, C. et al. Preliminary assessment of heavy metal contamination in surface water and sediments from Honghu Lake, East Central China. Front. Earth Sci. 6, 39–47 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11707-012-0309-z
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11707-012-0309-z