Ecological risk assessment of heavy metal(loid)s in riverine sediments along the East China Sea: A large-scale integrated analysis

Jie Li; Shixiong Yang; Feifei Wang; Maosheng Gao; Lei He; Guangming Zhao; Siyuan Ye; Yang Liu; Kaichun Hu

doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.116382

Ecological risk assessment of heavy metal(loid)s in riverine sediments along the East China Sea: A large-scale integrated analysis

Mar Pollut Bull. 2024 Apr 27:203:116382. doi: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.116382. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Jie Li¹, Shixiong Yang², Feifei Wang³, Maosheng Gao¹, Lei He¹, Guangming Zhao⁴, Siyuan Ye⁴, Yang Liu⁵, Kaichun Hu⁶

Affiliations

¹ Key Laboratory of Coastal Wetland Biogeosciences, Qingdao Institute of Marine Geology, China Geological Survey, 266273 Qingdao, China.
² Key Laboratory of Coastal Wetland Biogeosciences, Qingdao Institute of Marine Geology, China Geological Survey, 266273 Qingdao, China; Laboratory for Marine Geology, Qingdao Marine Science and Technology Center, 266237 Qingdao, China; Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, 100037 Beijing, China; School of Earth Sciences, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China. Electronic address: ysx_666@163.com.
³ Key Laboratory of Coastal Wetland Biogeosciences, Qingdao Institute of Marine Geology, China Geological Survey, 266273 Qingdao, China. Electronic address: ffwang123@163.com.
⁴ Key Laboratory of Coastal Wetland Biogeosciences, Qingdao Institute of Marine Geology, China Geological Survey, 266273 Qingdao, China; Laboratory for Marine Geology, Qingdao Marine Science and Technology Center, 266237 Qingdao, China.
⁵ Key Laboratory of Coastal Wetland Biogeosciences, Qingdao Institute of Marine Geology, China Geological Survey, 266273 Qingdao, China; Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, 100037 Beijing, China.
⁶ Key Laboratory of Coastal Wetland Biogeosciences, Qingdao Institute of Marine Geology, China Geological Survey, 266273 Qingdao, China; School of Earth Sciences, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China.

PMID: 38678739
DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.116382

Abstract

This study comprehensively assesses spatial distribution, pollution levels, and potential sources of heavy metal(loid)s in surface sediments across multiple river systems along the coastal area of the East China Sea. Copper in Qiantang River and Xiangshan Bay showed higher concentations and exceeded the threshold effect value, while the higher content of Lead was mainly found in the Saijiang River, Oujiang River, and Minjiang River. Heavy metal(loid)s in the alluvium of Qiantang River, Jiaojiang River, and Yangtze River showed low to moderate pollution levels, with Cd posing the highest ecological risk, followed by Hg. Meanwhile, Qiantang River, Jiaojiang River, Yangtze River, and Oujiang River exhibited considerable to moderate ecological risks and low toxic risk. PMF model analysis results reveal that concentrations of Cr, Ni, and As were closely related with natural geogenic input (36.56 %), while industrial and traffic activities (48.77 %) were primary source of Cu, Pb, Zn, and Hg, and main source of Cd was agricultural emissions (14.67 %).

Keywords: East China Sea; Ecological risk; Heavy metal(loid)s; Pollution level; Sediment; Source apportionment.