Pollution Characteristics, Ecological risk and source apportionment of heavy metals in sediments of the Pearl River Basin

doi:10.13745/j.esf.sf.2023.2.47

Abstract

Abstract:

The enrichment of heavy metals in sediments poses a serious threat to the aquatic environment of the Pearl River Basin. Exploring heavy metal pollution in the sediments of the Pearl River Basin is crucial for preventing and controlling such pollution and for supporting the scientific management of the aquatic environment. Data on the contents of heavy metals (As, Cd, Pb, Cr, Cu, and Zn) in the sediments of the Pearl River Basin published from 2009 to 2022 were collected. Through mathematical statistical analysis, correlation analysis, and positive matrix factorization (PMF) modeling, we discussed the distribution characteristics and pollution sources of heavy metals in the sediments of the Pearl River Basin. We also evaluated the pollution degree and ecological risk of heavy metals based on the geo-accumulation index and potential ecological risk index. The results revealed that the average content of As, Cd, Pb, Cr, Cu, and Zn in the sediments of the Pearl River Basin were 49.29, 2.76, 63.97, 67.44, 48.72, and 186.60 mg·kg^-1, respectively. Among them, As, Cd, Pb, and Zn exceeded the average values of stream sediments in southern China, while Cu and Cr were close to the average values of stream sediments in southern China. The pollution of Cd and As in the sediments of the Pearl River Basin is the most serious, with Cd classified as mild to moderate degree and As mainly at a slight degree, while the other four heavy metals showed no pollution. The order of single-factor hazard index of heavy metals in sediments was: Cd>As>Pb>Cu>Zn>Cr, with Cd showing a serious damage level throughout the Pearl River Basin, contributing 70.73% to 93.73% of the ecological risk index. The damage level of As in the Xijiang River, Nanbeipan River, and Pearl River Delta was moderate, while the damage level of other heavy metals such as Pb, Cr, Cu, and Zn was slight. The results of the PMF analysis indicated that the main sources of heavy metals in sediments were the combined pollution sources of mining activities and agricultural activities, coal and industrial activities, atmospheric deposition and traffic pollution sources, and natural sources, with contributions of 21%, 17%, 35%, and 27%, respectively. The first three were all anthropogenic sources, with a cumulative contribution of 73%. Cd and As were mainly derived from mining activities, industrial activities, and agricultural activities. Pb was primarily derived from traffic pollution and mining activities. Cr mainly originated from natural sources, while Cu and Zn were influenced by all four sources.

Key words: Pearl River Basin, sediment, heavy metals, ecological risk, source analysis

CLC Number:

TU Chunlin, HE Chengzhong, MA Yiqi, YIN Linhu, TAO Lanchu, YANG Minghua. Pollution Characteristics, Ecological risk and source apportionment of heavy metals in sediments of the Pearl River Basin[J]. Earth Science Frontiers, 2024, 31(3): 410-419.

Figures/Tables 12

Fig.1 Location and distribution of sediment sampling points in the Pearl River Basin

Table 1 Levels of heavy metal contamination

污染程度	分级	I_geo	污染程度	分级	I_geo
无污染	0	≤0	偏重度污染	4	>3~4
轻度污染	1	>0~1	重度污染	5	>4~5
偏中度污染	2	>1~2	严重污染	6	>5
中度污染	3	>2~3

Table 2 Indicators and classification of potential ecological risk assessment

$E i r$	危害程度	RI	危害程度
$E i r$ <40	轻微	RI<150	轻微
40≤ $E i r$ <80	中等	150≤RI<300	中等
80≤ $E i r$ <160	强	300≤RI<600	强
160≤ $E i r$ <320	很强	RI≥600	很强
$E i r$ ≥320	极强

Table 2 Indicators and classification of potential ecological risk assessment

$E i r$	危害程度	RI	危害程度
$E i r$ <40	轻微	RI<150	轻微
40≤ $E i r$ <80	中等	150≤RI<300	中等
80≤ $E i r$ <160	强	300≤RI<600	强
160≤ $E i r$ <320	很强	RI≥600	很强
$E i r$ ≥320	极强

Table 3 Descriptive statistics of heavy metal content in sediments of Pearl River Basin

统计量	各重金属统计量的值
统计量	As	Cd	Pb	Cr	Cu	Zn
最小值	0.03	0.01	1.79	2.00	4.38	11.78
最大值	388.57	46.70	267.91	221.03	276.00	977.30
均值	49.29	2.76	63.97	67.44	48.72	186.60
中值	22.51	0.89	40.30	59.50	34.22	109.26
众数	9.76^a	0.01	19.51^a	96.26	43.50	94.21^a
偏度	2.48	4.15	1.61	1.01	2.35	1.96
峰度	6.38	21.99	1.83	1.04	7.46	3.83
标准差	64.65	5.36	58.08	42.88	41.80	179.63
变异系数	1.31	1.94	0.91	0.64	0.86	0.96
珠江沉积物重金属含量^[28]	17	0.09	30	86	38	85
中国南方沉积物重金属含量^[23]	13.1	0.23	32.30	67	25	81
土壤风险筛选值	30	0.3	120	200	100	250

Fig.2 Distribution of heavy metals in sediments of secondary watersheds in the Pearl River Basin

Table 4 Average values of the geo-accumulation index of heavy metals in the sediments of the Pearl River Basin

重金属	I_geo平均值
重金属	北江流域	西江流域	东江流域	南北盘江流域	红柳江流域	郁江流域	珠江三角洲	珠江流域
As	-0.40	0.86	0.35	1.01	0.52	-0.17	0.49	0.44
Cd	2.91	1.79	1.92	-0.21	1.46	0.54	2.76	1.55
Pb	0.76	-0.07	0.09	0.07	-0.65	-0.61	0.56	-0.12
Cr	-1.33	-1.19	-1.22	-1.25	-1.32	-0.29	-0.51	-0.94
Cu	0.18	0.01	-0.33	0.11	-0.46	-0.40	0.70	-0.03
Zn	1.11	0.14	-0.46	-0.07	-0.24	-0.55	1.15	0.10
平均值	0.54	0.26	0.06	-0.06	-0.11	-0.25	0.86	0.17

Fig.3 Evaluation of the geo-accumulation index of heavy metals in the sediments of the Pearl River Basin

Fig.4 Boxplot of geo-accumulation index of heavy metals in sediments of secondary watersheds in Pearl River Basin

Table 5 Ecological hazard coefficient and potential ecological risk index of the heavy metals in sediments of Pearl River Basin

重金属	潜在生态危害系数 $E i r$
重金属	北江流域	西江流域	东江流域	南北盘江流域	红柳江流域	郁江流域	珠江三角洲	珠江流域
As	27.09	52.34	32.89	47.29	21.66	14.53	41.39	37.63
Cd	909.69	337.58	196.44	247.75	115.44	70.76	675.65	359.62
Pb	16.07	10.42	15.35	9.90	4.19	5.09	12.10	9.90
Cr	1.38	1.67	1.89	2.54	1.51	2.6	2.41	2.01
Cu	11.49	10	9.32	9.36	7.4	5.99	15.5	9.74
Zn	4.83	2.19	1.56	1.75	1.76	1.07	4.22	2.30
RI	970.55	414.20	257.45	318.59	151.96	100.04	751.27	421.2

Table 5 Ecological hazard coefficient and potential ecological risk index of the heavy metals in sediments of Pearl River Basin

重金属	潜在生态危害系数 $E i r$
重金属	北江流域	西江流域	东江流域	南北盘江流域	红柳江流域	郁江流域	珠江三角洲	珠江流域
As	27.09	52.34	32.89	47.29	21.66	14.53	41.39	37.63
Cd	909.69	337.58	196.44	247.75	115.44	70.76	675.65	359.62
Pb	16.07	10.42	15.35	9.90	4.19	5.09	12.10	9.90
Cr	1.38	1.67	1.89	2.54	1.51	2.6	2.41	2.01
Cu	11.49	10	9.32	9.36	7.4	5.99	15.5	9.74
Zn	4.83	2.19	1.56	1.75	1.76	1.07	4.22	2.30
RI	970.55	414.20	257.45	318.59	151.96	100.04	751.27	421.2

Fig.5 Ecological risk index of heavy metals in sediments of Pearl River Basin and its secondary watersheds

Table 6 Correlation coefficients between the heavy metals in the sediments of Pearl River Basin

重金属	各重金属间的相关系数
重金属	As	Cd	Pb	Cr	Cu	Zn
As	1
Cd	0.41^**	1
Pb	0.59^**	0.57^**	1
Cr	0.18^**	0.14^*	0.20^**	1
Cu	0.43^**	0.27^**	0.41^**	0.43^**	1
Zn	0.59^**	0.64^**	0.68^**	0.20^**	0.49^**	1

Fig.6 Contribution of each source factor to the heavy metal content in the sediments of Pearl River Basin

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